Presence of PSA antibodies in seminal plasma of infertile men.

Abstract

Immunoinfertility due to antisperm antibodies and semen hyperviscosity are among major causes of male infertility. Although the modulation of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has been investigated in prostate abnormalities, its role and the effect of its dysfunction in male fertility/infertility have not been extensively examined. The present study was conducted to examine the presence of PSA antibodies locally in the seminal plasma of men having immunoinfertility and semen hyperviscosity. Seminal plasma samples from immunoinfertile men (n=25), men with hyperviscous semen (n=25), and normal men (n=24) were collected and analyzed for immunoreactivity with PSA in ELISA and Western blot. In the immunoinfertile group, seminal plasma from 20% of men reacted positively with PSA. In the hyperviscous group, seminal plasma from 28% of men reacted positively with PSA. None (0%) of the seminal plasma from the normal group showed immunoreactivity to PSA. This is the first study ever to indicate the presence of PSA antibodies in semen of men having immunoinfertility or hyperviscosity. These findings may have clinical significance in the specific diagnosis and treatment of infertility in men and contraceptive vaccine development.