[Immunological causes of male infertility]. 1991

S Hassoun, and M Drouet, and J Le Sellin, and J C Bonneau, and A Sabbah
Laboratoire d'Immuno-Allergologique, CHRU, Angers.

Sperm (spermatozoa and the various secretions of the accessory glands) with its very complex antigenic system is only produced from puberty and thus at a time when the body has already had a for a long time the facility to respond to an antigenic stimulation with an immune reaction. Because of this, the spermatozoa, in contrast to other cells of the organism, are considered as strangers and may behave as auto-antigens. However, the existence of a haemato-testicular barrier, that prevents all contact between the sperm and the immune system must be recognized in man, its rupture has the consequence of formation of anti-spermatozoa antibodies. It is estimated that 5% of cases of sterility are of immunological origin and linked to the presence in man and/or woman of anti-sperm antibodies. The production is greater in man than in women because of the roles, in the first of macrophages and in the second of polynuclear neutrophils in the destruction of the spermatozoa. Anti spermatozoal antibodies play a part in sterility by: Spontaneous agglutination in ejaculation, thus preventing their progression in the female genital tract. Free spermatozoa, charged with antibody are retained at the level of the cervical secretion = SHAKING phenomenon. The anti-spermatozoal antibodies mask some antigens, so preventing penetration of the spermatozoa into the ovule. Contact of spermatozoa with antibody fixed to the uterine tissue is followed by secretion of histamine and this encourages the expulsion of an implanted egg. This is before the existence of: Spontaneous agglutination in ejaculation, Oligospermatosis, Indeterminate cause sterility, Immobilisation of the spermatozoa in the cervical secretion, Failure of repetition.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007248 Infertility, Male The inability of the male to effect FERTILIZATION of an OVUM after a specified period of unprotected intercourse. Male sterility is permanent infertility. Sterility, Male,Sub-Fertility, Male,Subfertility, Male,Male Infertility,Male Sterility,Male Sub-Fertility,Male Subfertility,Sub Fertility, Male
D008297 Male Males
D005306 Fertilization The fusion of a spermatozoon (SPERMATOZOA) with an OVUM thus resulting in the formation of a ZYGOTE. Conception,Fertilization, Delayed,Fertilization, Polyspermic,Conceptions,Delayed Fertilization,Delayed Fertilizations,Fertilizations,Fertilizations, Delayed,Fertilizations, Polyspermic,Polyspermic Fertilization,Polyspermic Fertilizations
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000917 Antibody Formation The production of ANTIBODIES by proliferating and differentiated B-LYMPHOCYTES under stimulation by ANTIGENS. Antibody Production,Antibody Response,Antibody Responses,Formation, Antibody,Production, Antibody,Response, Antibody,Responses, Antibody
D001324 Autoantigens Endogenous tissue constituents with the ability to interact with AUTOANTIBODIES and cause an immune response. Autoantigen,Autologous Antigen,Autologous Antigens,Self-Antigen,Self-Antigens,Antigen, Autologous,Antigens, Autologous,Self Antigen,Self Antigens
D013073 Sperm Agglutination Agglutination of spermatozoa by antibodies or autoantibodies. Agglutination, Sperm,Agglutinations, Sperm,Sperm Agglutinations
D013081 Sperm Motility Movement characteristics of SPERMATOZOA in a fresh specimen. It is measured as the percentage of sperms that are moving, and as the percentage of sperms with productive flagellar motion such as rapid, linear, and forward progression. Motilities, Sperm,Motility, Sperm,Sperm Motilities
D013094 Spermatozoa Mature male germ cells derived from SPERMATIDS. As spermatids move toward the lumen of the SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES, they undergo extensive structural changes including the loss of cytoplasm, condensation of CHROMATIN into the SPERM HEAD, formation of the ACROSOME cap, the SPERM MIDPIECE and the SPERM TAIL that provides motility. Sperm,Spermatozoon,X-Bearing Sperm,X-Chromosome-Bearing Sperm,Y-Bearing Sperm,Y-Chromosome-Bearing Sperm,Sperm, X-Bearing,Sperm, X-Chromosome-Bearing,Sperm, Y-Bearing,Sperm, Y-Chromosome-Bearing,Sperms, X-Bearing,Sperms, X-Chromosome-Bearing,Sperms, Y-Bearing,Sperms, Y-Chromosome-Bearing,X Bearing Sperm,X Chromosome Bearing Sperm,X-Bearing Sperms,X-Chromosome-Bearing Sperms,Y Bearing Sperm,Y Chromosome Bearing Sperm,Y-Bearing Sperms,Y-Chromosome-Bearing Sperms
D015551 Autoimmunity Process whereby the immune system reacts against the body's own tissues. Autoimmunity may produce or be caused by AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES. Autoimmune Response,Autoimmune Responses,Autoimmunities

Related Publications

S Hassoun, and M Drouet, and J Le Sellin, and J C Bonneau, and A Sabbah
January 1987, Annales de biologie clinique,
S Hassoun, and M Drouet, and J Le Sellin, and J C Bonneau, and A Sabbah
January 1978, Andrologia,
S Hassoun, and M Drouet, and J Le Sellin, and J C Bonneau, and A Sabbah
July 1996, Human reproduction (Oxford, England),
S Hassoun, and M Drouet, and J Le Sellin, and J C Bonneau, and A Sabbah
February 2003, The Urologic clinics of North America,
S Hassoun, and M Drouet, and J Le Sellin, and J C Bonneau, and A Sabbah
August 2006, Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.),
S Hassoun, and M Drouet, and J Le Sellin, and J C Bonneau, and A Sabbah
January 1993, World journal of urology,
S Hassoun, and M Drouet, and J Le Sellin, and J C Bonneau, and A Sabbah
May 2014, Annales d'endocrinologie,
S Hassoun, and M Drouet, and J Le Sellin, and J C Bonneau, and A Sabbah
September 2008, Zhonghua nan ke xue = National journal of andrology,
S Hassoun, and M Drouet, and J Le Sellin, and J C Bonneau, and A Sabbah
June 2013, Current opinion in endocrinology, diabetes, and obesity,
S Hassoun, and M Drouet, and J Le Sellin, and J C Bonneau, and A Sabbah
January 2004, Verhandlungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft fur Pathologie,
Copied contents to your clipboard!