Immunosuppressive Effect Induced by Intraperitoneal and Rectal Administration Of Boar Seminal Immunosuppressive Factor1

Abstract

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.

Immunobiology of Spermatozoa: A Review

“…13 Dostal et al isolated the immunosuppressive components of boar seminal plasma and injected them into the rectum of female mice. 20 They observed that this reduced the number of white blood cells and decreased the activity of plaque-forming cells. This could be important to prevent anti-sperm action in the female reproductive tract.…”

“…Because the secretion of accessory gland fluid is reasonably concurrent with ejaculation, the contributions of the accessory gland are a fairly accurate reflection of current functional status, and the epididymal and testicular contributions, on the other hand, reflect past events in these parts of the tract. 15,20 Physical and chemical properties of semen. In their research, Jonakova et al suggested that semen is highly variable in its composition, and mainly depends on the species, individuals within the same species, and ejaculates from the same individual.…”

“…Since seminal plasma is formed from the secretions of the testis, the epididymis and the male accessory sex glands including seminal vesicles, ampulla, prostrate, and the bulbourethral gland, the characteristics of seminal fluid could vary among different mammalian species. 15,20 Immunosuppressive properties of semen. The immunosuppressive components obtained from the seminal fluid have been found to reduce B lymphocyte activity to mitogens.…”

“…However, the immunosuppressive effect of seminal plasma could also compromise the immune system in females during viral and bacterial attack. 14,[20][21][22][23] Prostasomes are multilamellar submicron organelles present in human semen in large numbers and act as the reservoirs of complement inhibiting activity and also inhibit the lymphocyte proliferation assay. 3 This prostasome activity is responsible for very high amount of immunosuppressive activity in human seminal plasma.…”

“…9,14,[16][17][18][19] It has been suggested that this immunosuppressive effect of seminal plasma may also compromise the immune system in females for viral and bacterial attack. 14,[20][21][22][23] After the initiation of studies in immunological infertility in 1954 by Rumke who was responsible for the discovery of antibody response to spermatozoa in two infertile men, 24 this field is still in its infancy stage and much work is required to determine the cause of infertility in both men and women. This literature review takes into account the possible causes and patterns of immunological responses to spermatozoa in males.…”