The production of antisperm antibodies in vasectomized male mice

The immunological response of Swiss ICR mice to vasectomy has not been previously studied. The adult male rodents were divided into three groups: bilaterally vasectomized mice, sham-vasectomized control mice, and unoperated control animals. In preparing the vasectomized animals, the vasa deferentia were exposed through abdominal incisions, ligated, sectioned, and returned to the body cavity. A similar surgical procedure was followed in the preparation of the sham group, but the vasa deferentia were left intact. The Kibrick macroscopic gelatin agglutination technique was employed to detect the presence of antisperm antibodies in the sera of the three groups. The presence of sperm antibodies was demonstrated by the development of a precipitate in the agglutination tubes upon the addition of sera to the gelatin suspension of spermatozoa.After 12 weeks, circulating sperm-agglutinating antibodies were present in the sera of 18 of 20 (90 percent) bilaterally vasectomized Swiss ICR mice. No sperm agglutinins were detected in either the 8 shamvasectomized or 13 unoperated control animals.These data indicate that Swiss ICR mice produce antisperm antibodies in response to vasectomy.Thesis (M.S.