Antibody to testicular cells in the serum of normal mice

Abstract

The mixed hemadsorption hybrid antibody (MHA.HA) test was applied successfully to the detection of antigens on the surface of testicular cells separated into sub-populations by velocity sedimentation at unit gravity in the “staput” apparatus. Normal serum from mice of all strains tested, both male and female, was found to contain a natural autoantibody that reacts with testicular cells of all mice tested, but not with sperm or other cells. This autoantibody is detectable at an age of 4–6 weeks in females, and reaches a plateau at about 10 weeks of age. The corresponding antigen is denoted TCDA, because it is evidently a Testicular Cell Differentiation Antigen. Microscopy of the cells forming rosettes in the MHA.HA test confirmed that the TCDA+ cells belong to the gametogenetic series. Because females as well as males produce the autoantibody we presume that TCDA is also present on female gametic cells although it was not feasible to test this adequately. The anti-TCDA autoantibody is not related to the natural autoantibody against sperm, which according to MHA.HA test occurs in the serum of males but not of virgin females.