THE NATURAL ANTI-ALPHA-GALACTOSYL IGG IN SEMINAL FLUID - A SIMPLE MEANS TO DETERMINE DAMAGE TO THE BLOOD-GENITAL TRACT BARRIER IN INFERTILE MALES

A simple method for detecting damage to the blood genital tract barrier (BGTB) is presented. The method is based on the ubiquitous presence of the natural anti-alpha-galactosyl (anti-Gal) IgG antibodies in high titers in the serum of every normal individual, and the interaction between this antibody and alpha-galactosyl residues on rabbit red blood cells (RabRBC). The binding of the anti-Gal antibodies to RabRBC could be demonstrated by the rosetting antiglobulin test. The seminal fluid (SF), normally compartmentalized from the blood, is devoid of anti-Gal reactivity. The SF of a large proportion of infertile males contained significant anti-Gal reactivity, implying transudation of serum IgG molecules probably due to damage in the selective permeability of the BGTB. The diagnostic potential of this assay is discussed.