Antisperm antibodies of the Ig a class in the cervical mucus and sera of artificially inseminated cows

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the level of anti-sperm antibodies of the Ig A class in the cervical mucus and sera of artificially inseminated cows. Cervical mucus and sera samples were collected on the day of artificial insemination and the animals were divided into four groups of 20 cows each according to the number of previous inseminations. The titer of antibodies was determined by the indirect immunofluorescence method using sperm cells suspended in Tris egg-yolk extender or the commercial extender "Biociphos +". Our results indicate that titers of antisperm antibodies of the Ig A class elevate with the number of artificial inseminations. Mean titer values were higher in the cervical mucus samples than in sera indicating that the local immune response is more relevant for the immunological reactivity to sperm and extender antigens. In addition, the titer of antisperm antibodies was generally higher when sperm cells suspended in Tris egg-yolk extender were used for the test.