Immunopathologic changes following vasectomy.

The sera of 80 patients were studied by indirect immunofluorescence for antibodies to human sperm before and 2 and 9 months after vasectomy. Two kinds of antisperm antibodies were found. The first (1) were directed to antigens in the acrosome the equatorial segment and the postacrosomal region; (2) were found in 50% of patients (age 20 to 50 years) before vasectomy; (3) increased in titer in 2 months but showed little further changes in 9 months after vasectomy. The second (1) were directed to the tail or occasionally to discrete areas over the acrosome; (2) were found in 2-3% of patients before vasectomy; (3) increased in incidence to 25% in 2 months and 50% in 9 months after vasectomy. Both antibodies were present as IgG and IgM classes and were sperm specific. Pathologic changes were evaluated in 54 rats following bilateral vasoligation. Sperm granulomata developed in the cauda epididymis and the vas. These granulomata (1) appeared during the second months reaching an incidence of accompanied by testicular pathology; and (3) were not found in sham operated rats. It is concluded that (1) "natural" antisperm antibodies exist in man and they are directed to several antigens in the head region; (2) immune antisperm antibodies develop after vasectomy and they are directed to the tail or occasionally to discrete antigens over the acrosome; and (3) should sperm granulomata also occur in man following vasectomy they may stimulate the production of antisperm antibodies.(Full text)