Effect of washing on sperm surface autoantibodies.

This study tested the hypothesis that immediate washing "removes" sperm surface antibodies. Nine ejaculates with antisperm antibodies were studied. Separate portions of each ejaculate were washed by centrifugation (Shulman's method) as soon as possible after production (0-h) and 2 h later (2-h). In four samples, portions were also washed by a simple swim-up migration started at 0-h. Washed sperm were tested for surface antibodies using the immunobead binding test. The number of sperm with bound IgG antibodies at 0-h was significantly less than that at 2-h (P less than 0.001) but no significant difference was found in respect of IgA antibodies. Swim-up migration yielded results similar to those of centrifugation and had the advantage of selecting highly motile sperm. The potential application and implication of these findings are discussed.