AUTOANTIBODIES TO GONADOTROPIC HORMONES AND TESTOSTERONE IN MALE INFERTILITY

Objective. To study whether autoantibodies to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and testosterone can be produced in male infertility. Subjects and methods. A study group comprised men with infertility and pathozoospermia (n=71). A control group included fertile men with normozoospermia (n=32). Autoantibodies to hCG and testosterone and IgG subclasses were determined in blood serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. Production of IgM- and IgG-classes autoantibodies to hCG and testosterone (1-4 subclasses, mainly functionally active IgG1) was found in male infertility. Antibodies to hCG and testosterone were detected more frequently in the infertile men (40.8% and 25.4%, respectively) than in the fertile men (3.1%) (p<0.01). There was a high detection rate of the antibodies in idiopathic male infertility (54.5% and 39.4%, respectively), in patients with astenozoospermia, and/or oligozoospermia, azoospermia. Conclusion. Autoantibodies to hCG and testosterone may be considered as a possible etiological factor of male infertility.

autoantibodies, human chorionic gonadotropin, testosterone, male infertility, pathozoospermia