The effect of testis biopsy on autosensitization against spermatozoal antigens.

The occurrence of spermatozoal antibodies, detectable by sperm agglutination and IFT, was studied in thirty-five patients who had previously undergone surgical treatment (orchidopexia) for ectopia testis, and in whom testis biopsy was now performed in order to evaluate the testicular function. Before the testis biopsy, antibodies staining the main tail piece was found significantly more frequently among the patients (in 29%) than among male blood donors. The occurrence of sperm agglutinins and of antibodies reacting with the front part of the acrosome, the equatorial segment and the postnuclear cap was not significantly different in the two groups. Sera collected about 10 days and 5 weeks after the biopsy revealed evidence showing that antigenic stimulation had occurred in eleven patients (31%), but the various antigens differed in stimulating potency. The antigen in the main tail piece and the antigen involved in the sperm-agglutination test were the most active, stimulating eight and six patients, respectively. Less active were the antigens in the front part of the acrosome (affecting four patients) and the equatorial segment (affecting three patients), and for the antigen in the postnuclear cap no stimulatory effect was observed. In none of the cases did the autoimmune response caused by the testis biopsy reach a level at which it would be reasonable to believe that it would interfere with fertility.