PROBLEM: The effect of seminal immunosuppressive component (ISF) on the primary and secondary antibody response, induced by soluble and/or corpuscular antigens, was evaluated in the sera obtained at different intervals before and after immunizations. The duration of the immune suppression induced by ISF treatment within the primary and secondary immunizations was also determined. METHOD OF STUDY: The ability of the seminal immunosuppressive component to suppress the primary and secondary antibody response was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) in the sera of mice treated in vivo with the immunosuppressor before and after immunization with antigens. Likewise, the duration of the immune suppression induced by the seminal immunosuppressor administered before the primary and secondary immunizations was tested by ELISA with antisera to keyhole limpets hemocyanin. RESULTS: Intravenous and rectal deposition of ISF led to a suppression of the primary and secondary antibody response to soluble and corpuscular antigens. The most effective suppression of the immune response was achieved in mice treated with immunosuppressor 3 days before the immunization with antigens. Also the secondary antibody response to the challenging antigen was significantly suppressed by ISF. The production of immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, and IgA to keyhole limpets hemocyanin was depressed for a relatively long period in mice treated with the immunosuppressor. The results indicated that the preexposure is needed for maximal immunosuppression of the primary antibody production. The treatment with ISF led to a prolonged immunosuppression but not to permanent tolerance to the challenging antigen. CONCLUSIONS: 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.

Institute of Molecular Genetics Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Prague Czech Republic

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