Antisperm antibody treatment mode: levels of antisperm antibodies after incubation with TEST-yolk buffer and filtration using the SpermPrep II method.

OBJECTIVE To assess whether incubation in TEST-yolk buffer (TYB) or human tubal fluid (HTF) could alter the sperm membrane characteristics and its relationship to antisperm antibodies (ASA) and/or antigen detachment from the sperm membrane and to evaluate the filtration of those specimens and possible recovery of ASA-free spermatozoa. DESIGN A prospective clinical study. SETTING Andrology Institute of Lexington, Lexington, Kentucky. PATIENT(S) Twenty patients undergoing infertility treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Recovery of spermatozoa with reduced levels or antisperm antibody-free sperm after treatment with TYB or HTF, followed by filtration using the SpermPrepII method (Sephadex based). RESULT(S) Assessment of ASA using the direct immunobead test showed no significant differences between specimens incubated for 2 hours in seminal plasma (fresh) or HTF with regard to levels of IgA and IgG. The percentage binding of anti-IgA and anti-IgG immunobeads was significantly reduced in specimens incubated for 2 hours in TYB compared with specimens incubated in seminal plasma or HTF. Furthermore, selection of spermatozoa using the SpermPrepII filtration method significantly reduced the percentage binding of anti-IgA and anti-IgG immunobeads compared with specimens incubated in HTF. CONCLUSION(S) The results suggest that TYB either altered the sperm membrane properties so that there was a decreased affinity at the antibody and/or antigen sites or that the egg yolk proteins were absorbing the antibodies and/or antigens complexes from the sperm membrane surface. Incubation of spermatozoa in TYB followed by filtration with the SpermPrepII method improved the recovery of ASA-free spermatozoa by selectively entrapping spermatozoa with ASA bound to its surface.