Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies Against Human Sperm Antigens by lmmunoassays Including Sperm Function Assays and Epitope Evaluation

ABSTRACT: Fifteen monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) raised against human sperm cells were evaluated for reactions against human sperm by indirect immunofluorescence, immunocytochemistry, agglutination, complement-de-pendent immobilization, cervical mucus penetration, and hamster egg penetration assays. The MAbs were analyzed for specificity by immunofluorescent reac-tions with peripheral blood lymphocytes and sperm and classified into three main groups based on regional staining, ie, acrosome, plasma membrane, or tail. One MAb (218) bound to the sperm neck. Three MAbs, (80, 85, and HS-126) were found to react with lymphocytes. Three of five acrosome-reactive MAbs (11, 63, 106), two of five tail-staining MAbs (97, HS-30), and the neck reactor (218) showed significant to highly significan