In vitro and in vivo studies evaluating antisemen antibodies as a potential spermicidal agent in hamsters

ObjectiveTo determine the spermicidal activity of antisemen antibodies in the hamster model.DesignProspective, controlled study.SettingAdvanced preclinical sciences center.Animal(s)Subgroups of 10 and 14 golden hamsters.Intervention(s)Ex vitro and in vivo treatment of sperm with antisemen antibodies or normal rabbit serum.Main Outcome Measure(s)The EC50 value of antisemen antibodies, the time required for 50% motility loss of progressively motile spermatozoa exposed to antisemen antibodies, the average sperm mitochondrion fluorescence intensity, the rate of fertilization, and the scoring of histologic changes in the hamster vaginal tissue.Result(s)The EC50 value of antisemen antibodies was found 70 μg/mL, and the time required for 50% motility loss of progressively motile spermatozoa exposed to antisemen antibodies (at 70 μg/mL) was 5 minutes; for the experimental and control groups, the average fluorescence intensities of sperm mitochondria were respectively 180.28 ± 82.24 and 309.74 ± 148.37, the fertilization rates in vitro were 0.09% and 45%, the rates of fertilization with intrauterine sperm injection were 0 and 15.0%. There was a significant difference between two groups. None of the four hamsters that received antisemen antibodies in gel-polyoxyl-40-stearate had epithelial disruption characteristic of inflammation.Conclusion(s)Antisemen antibodies possess appreciable spermicidal potential, which may be explored as an effective constituent of spermicide.