[Immunological analyses on serum spermagglutinin in women (author's transl)].

Several sperm agglutination tests have been described. We also had reported a method of Microscale sperm agglutination test (MAT) modified to Friberg procedure. The critical evaluation whether this test is based on immunologic or not was investigated in this study. Seven sera positive for MAT and 2 control sera were used as the materials. Four different chromatographic analyses were utilized. The following results were obtained. a) Study using Gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 showed the sperm agglutination was observed in only IgM-containing fraction and IgG-containing fractions. b) Study on two control sera failed to show the sperm agglutination in any fractions. c) Agglutinating activity was found to be almost paralleled to the concentrations of IgG as well as IgM. d) Relative activity of sperm agglutination was found being higher in IgM-containing fractions than in IgG-containing fractions. 3) Affinity chromatography and chromatography using DE-32 revealed that sperm agglutination was found in isolated IgG fraction. f) F(ab')2 fraction obtained by pepsin digestion on isolated IgG also showed the sperm agglutination but not in Fc fraction. As a conclusion, agglutinins detectable by Microscale agglutination test are most likely antibodies to the spermatozoa.