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Biomedical subjects

Z H Marcus

Publications and source records attributed to Z H Marcus.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

Studies on sperm antigenicity, 5. In vivo and in vitro cellular reactivity in guinea pigs sensitized with fractions of human spermatozoa.

In vitro delayed type hypersensitivity was demonstrated with peritoneal exudate cells from guinea pigs immunized with different preparations of human and guinea pig seminal components emulsified with complete Freund's adjuvant-H37Ra. The seminal components were intact human spermatozoa (HuSp); intact guinea pig spermatozoa (GPSp); human seminal plasma (HuSePlFr); and fractions of human spermatozoa obtained by centrifugation of the homogenate at 5,000 X g (5S30 and 5p30), at 20,000 X g (20S30 and 20p30), and at 144,000 X g (144p120). Cellular sensitivity was demonstrated in vivo by skin testing and in vitro by the macrophage inhibition technique. Peritoneal exudate cells from guinea pigs sensitized with fractions 5p30 and 20p30 elicited a delayed hypersensitivity reaction which could be detected only with intact human spermatozoa. Other human spermatozoal fractions (5S30, 20S30, and 144p120) were weak immunogens. Sensitization of guinea pigs with fractions of human spermatozoa, in addition to causing delayed hypersensitivity reactions, elicited low titers of spermatoxic antibodies. Antibodies to human spermatozoal fractions 5S30, 5p30, 20S30, and 20p30 cross-reacted with intact human spermatozoa and intact guinea pig spermatozoa. It is postulated that the existence of "spermatozoa-specific" coating antigen(s) derived from other components of the reproductive tract might be responsible for human spermatozoal antigenicity.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Immunological factors and post coital test in unexplained infertility.

Twenty-four couples facing longstanding primary or secondary infertility underwent semen analysis, PCT, functional evaluation of menstrual cycle, hysterosalpingography and laparscopy. All clinical findings were normal with the exception of PCT which was positive in 13 and negative in 11. All the women underwent a multiple approach investigation of local and circulating antibodies production as well as cell-mediated immunity against live spermatozoa. Sperm Immobilization Test (SIT) and Spermatotoxicity Tests (STT) were performed in a single experimental design on cervical mucus and blood serum. Leucocyte Migration Inhibition Test in presence of sperms (LMIT) was done on peripheral leucocytes. Local antispermatic activity in the cervical mucus was negative in all PCT positive cases, and positive in six out of 11 PCT negative cases. SIT and STT were both positive in cervical mucus and in blood in one case only. No correlation could be found between PCT and serum SIT, STT or LMIT. The fertility pattern expressed by the number of pregnancies per years of exposure, already low in the whole group, was even lower in the sub-groups with positive immunological factors. Positive immunological factors do not exclude the possibility of conception but appear to be associated with a reduced rate of conception.

Cell Migration Inhibition↗
PubMed1975

Studies on sperm antigenicity. IV. Lymphocyte cytotoxicity in cell-mediated response to homologous spermatozoa.

In the presence of specific antigen, lymph node cells from Rockefeller strain guinea pigs with delayed hypersensitivity to homologous spermatozoal antigen produced progressive destruction of L929 cell monolayers. This effect was measured by counting surviving target cells removed from Leighton tubes by trypsin treatment as well as by standard cell counts in microplates. The cytotoxic effect was immunologically specific since neither sperm-sensitized lymphocytes in presence of unspecific antigen nor normal lymph node cells with guinea pig sperm, induced target cell destruction. The effect required an antigen concentration equal to, or greater than, 70 micrograms protein/ml. A ratio of 100:1 of sensitized lymphoid cells to target cell was found to be optimal. L-cell lysis could be demonstrated at day 14 and reached its peak on day 21 after immunization. A high level of correlation between lymphocyte cytotoxicity and macrophage migration inhibition was found. The role of lymphocyte cytotoxicity in cell-mediated immunity to spermatozoa is discussed as one of the possible mechanisms leading to destructive changes in the testes.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Studies on sperm antigenicity. 2. In vivo and in vitro cellular reactivity in guinea pigs sensitized to homologous and heterologous spermatozoal autoantigens.

In vitro delayed type hypersensitivity was demonstrated with peritoneal exudate cells from guinea pigs of the Rockefeller and Hartley strains, immunized with different preparations of the guinea pig male reproductive tract (RMT) emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant-H37Ra. The RMT preparations were purified guinea pig spermatozoal autoantigens S, P, and T; whole guinea pig spermatozoa, and extract from epididymal tissue. The cellular sensitivity in vivo was demonstrated by injecting the proper antigen into the skin of the tested animals and in vitro by the macrophage inhibition technique. Peritoneal exudate cells from guinea pigs sensitized with whole guinea pig spermatozoa cells were inhibited in vitro by the specific antigen, epididymal extract, and autoantigen-T. Autoantigen-S was found to be a weak immunogen. However, the migration of peritoneal exudate cells from guinea pigs sensitized with large amounts of antigen-S was inhibited by whole spermatozoa in vitro. This cross-reactivity revealed the possibility that the immunogenicity of purified autoantigen-S might be connected to its molecular size. According to the immunizing dose of the antigens, testicular lesions of either the aspermatogenic or orchitis type were found in the testes of sensitized guinea pigs. Lesions in the testes of the guinea pigs were not detectable by cross-immunization with heterologous human or rat spermatozoa, although some degree of in vitro cross-reactivity was detected by skin test studies.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Leukocyte reactions "in vitro" to human spermatozoa in infertile females].

Leucocyte migration test was done in 55 couples facing fertility problems for detection of antispermatozoal cellular hypersensitivity. In 29 cases out of 55, the sterility was unexplained and in 26 cases out of 55, various infertility factors were found. In this study, wife's leucocytes separated on Ficoll-Urografin gradient were incubated (4.10(6) per capillary) with washed fresh husband's spermatozoa suspended at 7.10(6)/ml in M 199 and 20 p. 100 fetal bovine serum. The results were read after 18h. Two kinds of migration inhibition were found: 1) Specific wives leucocyte migration inhibition in 4 out of 55 cases, all of them unexplained infertility cases. 2) Leucocyte migration inhibition not related to wife's immunity state and possibly due to a direct effect of a toxic or inhibitory property of some husband's spermatozoa in 22 out of 55 cases, 11/19 cases with known male factors, and 11/36 cases without any male factor. In the follow up, only 1 woman out of the 22 couples with husband's spermatozoal inhibitory factor was pregnant later, while in the group of 29 women in which normal leucocyte spreading was found, 8 women conceived later. No woman out of the 4 suspected of antispermatozoal delayed hypersensitivity have conceived. Attention must be paid to the possible role of delayed hypersensitivity to sperm in unexplained infertility and also to the occurrence of spermatozoal toxic factor and its possible implications on human infertility.

Adult↗