Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Suppressive effect of seminal plasma on lymphocyte activation

Nature volume 253, pages 727–729 (1975)Cite this article

Abstract

ALTHOUGH spermatozoa bear histocompatibility antigens (H-2 in mice1,2 and HL-A in man3,4) accelerated (immune) skin graft rejection is not known to occur in females previously multiply inseminated by a graft donor. The absence of detectable transplantation immunity in inseminated females correlates with the generally low immunogenicity of spermatozoa given by other routes. The decreased antigenicity of spermatozoa is not explained by a privileged immune status of the female reproductive tract as the vaginal route is adequate for immunisation against a variety of antigens5, especially if the tract is wounded6, and antibodies to spermatozoa decrease fertility in some situations7. Thus, it is probable that mechanisms have evolved to maintain a low immunogenicity of spermatozoa. What seems to be an exception to the low immunogenicity of spermatozoa—that antibody to a tissue-specific sperm antigen occurs naturally without deliberate immunisation8,9 and is readily elicited in a variety of species10—may represent a protective mechanism. Many substances present in seminal plasma may exert a suppressive effect by coating sperm membrane antigens or inducing immunosuppression by other means.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Vojtiskova, M., Nature, 222, 1293–1294 (1964).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Erickson, R. P., in The Genetics of Spermatozoa, (edit. by Beatty, R. A., and Waelsch, S. G.), 191–202 (Edinburgh, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Fellous, M., and Dausset, J., Nature, 225, 191–193 (1970).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Kerek, G., and Afzelius, B. A., Int. J. Fert., 17, 120–126 (1972).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Edwards, R. G., J. Reprod. Fert., 1, 385–401 (1960).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Bratanov, K., in Immunology and Reproduction (edit. by Edwards, R. G.), 178–185 (International, New York, 1969).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Tyler, A., J. Reprod. Fert., 2, 473–506 (1961).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Johnson, M. H., J. Reprod. Fert., 16, 503–506 (1968).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Padma, M. D., Nature new Biol., 238, 25–26 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Bach, F. M., Transplant. Proc., 5, 23–30 (1973).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Boyum, A., Scand. J. clin. Lab. Invest. Suppl., 97, 1–109 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Taylor, P. L., and Kelly, R. W., Nature, 250, 665–667 (1974).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Webb, D. R., Stites, D. P., Perlman, J. D., Austin, K. E., and Fudenberg, H. H., Clin. Immunol. Immunopath., 2, 322–332 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Levis, W. R., Whalen, J. J., and Sherins, R. J., Lancet, ii, 954–955 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Singal, D. P., Berry, R., and Naipul, N., Nature new Biol., 233, 61–62 (1971).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Singal, D. R., Berry, R., Transplantation, 13, 441–442 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Forlani, L., Chiancone, E., Vecchini, P., Floridi, A., D'Alessio, G., and Leone, E., Biochim. biophys. Acta, 140, 170–173 (1967).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Huggins, C. B., and Neal, W., J. exp. Med., 76, 517–541 (1942).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Lang, C. J., Kummer, J. F., and Hartley, D. P., New Engl. J. Med., 291, 121–123 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Kearns, D. H., Siebert, G. B., O'Reilly, R., Lee, L., and Logan, L., New Engl. J. Med., 289, 1170–1174 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. McLaren, A., Nature, 201, 582–585 (1964).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Edwards, R. G., Nature, 203, 50–53 (1964).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Bell, E. B., and McLaren, A., J. Reprod. Fert., 22, 345–356 (1970).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California, 94143

    DANIEL P. STITES & ROBERT P. ERICKSON

Authors
  1. DANIEL P. STITES
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. ROBERT P. ERICKSON
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

STITES, D., ERICKSON, R. Suppressive effect of seminal plasma on lymphocyte activation. Nature 253, 727–729 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/253727a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/253727a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing