The immunosuppressive component was isolated from boar seminal vesicle secretion and administered i.p. or rectally to male mice. By means of the immunofluorescent method, the seminal immunosuppressive component was found on the membranes of 50-70% of white blood cells of treated mice the first day after i.p. and the third day after rectal administration. The immunosuppressive component was observed on the membranes of 10-20% of white cells even at the 17th day after treatment. Intraperitoneal or rectal administration of the immunosuppressive component led to a decrease in the white cell concentration in blood of treated mice. These findings indicate that rectal deposition of semen may compromise some aspects of the immune system and may be an important cofactor in the development of viral or bacterial infections among homosexual men.
Aspermatogenic substance (AS) was isolated from bull seminal vesicle fluid by precipitation with acetic acid and ammonium sulphate, and subjected to CM Sephadex C-50 and Sephadex G-100 column chromatography. The molecular weight of the monomer of AS was 22,000 and of the dimer was 44,000 as determined by gel filtration. The purity of the AS was controlled by disc electrophoresis in acrylamide gel, starch-gel electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis in agar gel, by peak homogeneity at the last step of separation and by the ultracentrifugation pattern. The N-terminal amino acid was lysine. The absorbance of 0\m=.\1% AS at 280 nm in pH 5\m=.\5buffer was 0\m=.\510.The s value obtained for 0\m=.\5% AS solution was 2\m=.\7.
Repeated i.p. or rectal treatment of male and female mice with an immunosuppressive component isolated from boar seminal vesicle secretion reduced responses of B lymphocytes to mitogen as evaluated by [3H]thymidine or bromo-deoxyuridine incorporation. The proliferative activity of T lymphocytes was not affected. By means of the immunofluorescence method, the seminal immunosuppressive component was detected on the membranes of B lymphocytes separated from the spleens of mice treated in vivo with immunosuppressor. An i.p. injection or rectal infusion of the immunosuppressive component also led to a suppression of primary antibody response to soluble and particulate antigens. These findings indicate that in vivo deposition of semen may compromise some aspects of the immune system and may be an important cofactor in the development of viral and bacterial infections in homosexual men.
The in vivo deposition of semen may compromise some aspects of the immune system and may be an important factor in the development of viral and bacterial infections. The suppression of humoral immune response suggests potential uses of seminal immunosuppressor for the animal model study in the therapy of antibody-mediated diseases.
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