The history and current status of anti-sperm antibody research

It was at the end of the 19th century that research concerning sperm immunity began. Since Landsteiner's reported that boar sperm was impaired in abdominal cavity of guinea-pigs after successive intraperitoneal injections (Centbl. f. Bakreriol. 25, 546, 1899), a number of studies examined toxic effects on sperm. The period was coincident with the time when Ehrlich proposed “side-chain theory”, a basis of modern immunology. At that time, researchers’ interest was whether or not anti-sperm antibody (ASA) was produced in same species followed by sterility in females In humans, it was reported that volunteer women immunized with heat-treated sperm produced ASA which resulted in sterility, although this result was questionable (Baskin, J Contracept.
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Source Type: research