John C. Herr

Immunobiological Effects of Vasectomy and Vasovasostomy in the Rat Model

Vasectomy is known to induce increases in serum antisperm antibodies in most species that have been studied (1, 2). As a result, there has been considerable interest in the possibility of systemic effects as a consequence of the immune response. Concerns were heightened by reports of glomerulonephritis in rabbits (3), tumors in mice (4), and an increased incidence of atherosclerosis in monkeys (5, 6) after vasectomy. However, epidemiologic studies have not revealed an increased incidence of any serious diseases in vasectomized men (7–10).

Intra-Acrosomal Contraceptive Vaccine Immunogen SP-10 in Human, Macaque, and Baboon

SP-10 is an acrosomal protein that is first detected within the developing acrosome of round spermatids in the human testis and persists within the acrosome of mature spermatozoa (1, 2). SP-10 has been designated a primary contraceptive vaccine candidate by a WHO task force on contraceptive vaccines on the basis of several characteristics (3). First, current tissue specificity data suggest that SP-10 is specific to maturing germ cells within the testis (1, 4, 5). Such tissue specificity reduces the likelihood of autoimmune disease arising in females who are administered an SP-10 vaccine. Second, SP-10 has been detected in the sperm of all human males tested to date (N > 200) and thus appears to be conserved among men (2). Third, SP-10 remains associated with the sperm head after the acrosome reaction (2). Finally, a monoclonal antibody to SP-10 (MHS-10) was shown to inhibit human sperm penetration in the hamster egg penetration assay (3). Additional preliminary data have shown human IVF to be inhibited by a monoclonal antibody that reacts with a molecule considered to be SP-10 (6).