Immunosuppression by human seminal plasma.

Immunosuppressive property of normal human seminal plasma has been demonstrated on various in vitro immune parameters such as, blast transformation of lymphocytes with Phytohemagglutinin (P), Concanavalin A and Lipopolysaccharide, E & EAC rosette formation and mixed lymphocyte culture. The immunosuppression appears to be a T-cell mediated phenomenon. Analysis of semen samples obtained from 86 donors, comprising azoospermic, oligospermic, normospermic and polyspermic individuals, suggests that immunosuppression of the seminal plasma has no correlation with either the sperm density or the protein content of seminal plasma. The possible implication of the immunosuppressive activity in the development of acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome is also discussed.