Identification of Human Spermatozoa Antigens Using Monoclonal Antibodies and the Alkaline Phosphatase Anti-Alkaline Phosphatase-Technique/Identifizierung von Antigenen humaner Spermatozoen mit Hilfe monoklonaler Antikörper und der alkalischen Phosphatase

Monoclonal antibodies against antigens expressed by human sperm

The production and characterization of 21 mouse monoclonal antibodies (TüS1-TüS21) with specificity predominantly for human spermatozoa antigens is described. Reactivity of cells from human ejaculates, peripheral blood and several organs was determined using the alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP)-technique as well as the indirect immunofluorescence test. 15 of the monoclonal antibodies reacted with various regions of human sperm and often also with their precursor cells in the testis. Cross-reactivity with animal spermatozoa was frequently observed.

Localization of antigenic determinants recognized by a monoclonal antibody in rat epididymal spermatozoa, with particular reference to sperm maturation

This study localized antigenic determinants recognized by a mouse anti-human sperm monoclonal antibody TüS10 immunocytochemically and immunoelectron microscopically in the rat sperm recovered from the caput and cauda epididymidis. Immunocytochemistry showed that the antibody bound specifically to the plasma membrane overlying the principal piece of membrane-intact sperm from the caput and cauda epididymidis. Demembranation by Triton X-100 significantly decreased the affinity of the monoclonal antibody TüS10 to the caput sperm but did not obviously change that to the cauda sperm. Immunoelectron microscopy with biotin-streptavidin peroxidase complex pre-embedding method confirmed the localization of the antigenic determinants over the cell surface of the principal piece of the membrane-intact spermatozoa from the caput and cauda epididymidis. The demembranated sperm from the caput epididymidis showed no intracellular labelling, while those from the cauda displayed labelling on their external surface of the fibrous sheath. Using monoclonal antibody TüS10 as a probe, we detected different distribution patterns of the antigenic determinants between the spermatozoa in the caput and cauda epididymidis. These results suggest that spermatozoa mature with immunologically detectable changes in the fibrous sheath during their epididymal transit.

Monoclonal antibody to alkaline phosphatase from the intestinal mucosa of the harp seal, Phoca groenlandica

1. Hybridoma secreting a monoclonal antibody APP.1 to the harp seal alkaline phosphatase (A1Ph) was obtained by fusing murine myeloma Sp 2/0 cells with the splenocytes of BALB/c mice immunized with purified isozyme K. 2. The antibody has no effect on the enzyme activity and shows a high affinity for harp seal A1Ph (KD = 8.5 x 10(-10) M). The antibody has similar affinities for the AlPh of harp seal, fur seal, common seal and deer. 3. The antibody APP.1 was coupled to Sepharose and employed in chromatographic purification of the harp seal intestinal AlPh. Alkaline phosphatase isolated on this immunosorbent has a spec. act. of 20,800 units per mg of protein. 4. The antibody-enzyme complex gives an excellent immunocytochemical labeling of tissue sections, cell cultures and smears.