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Immunopathogenesis and Therapy of Gonadal Disorders and Infertility
Published in George S. Eisenbarth, Immunotherapy of Diabetes and Selected Autoimmune Diseases, 2019
There are several potential mechanisms by which antisperm antibodies could interfere with reproduction. The first of these could occur within the testes in the form of degeneration of spermatids and phagocytosis by the Sertoli cells.37 Sperm motility may be affected and cervical mucous penetration may be prevented.38 The activation of macrophages may increase the resultant clearing of spermatozoa.39 Sperm cytotoxicity may occur in those portions of the female reproductive tract where complement levels are in the range of plasma.40 Defects in capacitation, the acrosome reaction, interference with sperm-egg interaction, and embryonal loss could all occur.41,42 In unexplained instances of infertility it has been estimated that up to 30% of cases may be due to immunologic causes.43
Fertility treatments
Published in Ruth Chambers, Fertility Problems, 2018
▶ Sperm antibody testing. This may be helpful in couples with unexplained infertility, but there are still a great number of methodological issues and conflicting evidence for their useful application to be resolved, before routine testing for antisperm antibodies in semen can be recommended.1
Infertility
Published in Andrea Akkad, Marwan Habiba, Justin Konje, David Taylor, EMQs in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2017
Andrea Akkad, Marwan Habiba, Justin Konje, David Taylor
Antisperm antibodies can impair motility, lead to sperm clumping and may impair their ability to fertilise the egg. They are not particularly common in general, but may be detectable in up to 10% of infertile men. There is a strong association with male genital tract surgery; almost 70% of men who have undergone a vasectomy reversal will have antisperm antibodies. Women can develop antisperm antibodies, too; however, this is uncommon (less than 5% of infertile women).
SARS-CoV-2 effects on male reproduction: should men be worried??
Published in Human Fertility, 2023
Marziye Farsimadan, Mohammad Motamedifar
The male reproductive system has an immunosuppressive environment. The blood-testis barrier can form an immune barrier in the testis. The blood-testis barrier is a structure located between the interstitial capillary lumen and the seminiferous tubule lumen (Mruk & Cheng, 2015). It prevents the antigenicity of sperm and deters the production of anti-sperm antibodies to avoid the occurrence of autoimmune reactions. It also limits the entry of harmful substances to prevent any damage and ensure a normal microenvironment for spermatogenesis (Cheng & Mruk, 2012). The testicular system is also an ideal antiviral system. The Leydig cells and testicular macrophages can produce a variety of antiviral proteases after contact with viruses that would prevent viruses and tumours and improve immune regulatory function (Li et al., 2012). Having said that, the blood-testicular barrier might not establish a perfect barrier to viruses under systemic or local inflammation. Several studies have proven that a wide range of viral families can pass the blood-testis barrier and enter the male reproductive system and elicit an immune response within the testicle, which would lead to systemic or local inflammation of the testis (Hui et al., 2020; Mansuy et al., 2016).
Telomeres as a molecular marker of male infertility
Published in Human Fertility, 2019
Ewa Boniewska-Bernacka, Anna Pańczyszyn, Natalia Cybulska
Currently, extended semen analysis can measure sperm fertilization capacity and disorders of multiple parameters can be determined by evaluating: (i) ejaculate volume; (ii) viscosity; (iii) agglutination; (iv) sperm concentration; (v) sperm motility; (vi) sperm viability; (vii) sperm morphology; (viii) leukocytospermia; (iix) bacterial or fungal presence (based on semen culture); (ix) presence of antisperm antibodies; (x) sperm-hyaluronan binding assay (HBA); (xi) reactive oxygen species level (ROS test); (xii) the percentage of sperm chromatin structure damage expressed as DNA fragmentation index (DFI); and (xiii) chromatin condensation (high DNA stainability, HDS).
Systematic review of antioxidant types and doses in male infertility: Benefits on semen parameters, advanced sperm function, assisted reproduction and live-birth rate
Published in Arab Journal of Urology, 2018
Zinc was compared to no therapy in a prospective trial in men with asthenozoospermia given for 3 months. Results revealed a significant improvement in sperm concentration (P < 0.02), progressive motility (P < 0.05), fertilising capacity (P < 0.01), and a reduction in the incidence of anti-sperm antibodies (P < 0.01) [19]. Oral zinc supplementation successfully restored seminal catalase-like activity and improved sperm concentration and progressive motility in a group of asthenozoospermic men [77].