Volume 2 • Issue 2 • 1000109 Open Access Research Article Kaur et al., Andrology 2013, 2:2 DOI: 10.4172/2167-0250.1000109 Keywords: Apoptosis; Escherichia coli; Spermagglutinating factor; Acrosome reaction; Mg 2+ dependent; ATPase activity Abbreviation: SAF: Spermagglutinating Factor Introduction Te signifcance of bacteriospermia has gained increasing importance in recent years. Acute and chronic infections in the male reproductive system may compromise the sperm cell function [1]. Spermatozoa can subsequently be afected by these infections at diferent points in their development and maturation. A variety of pathogenic bacterial species are isolated from the semen of fertile and infertile patients with the ability to interact directly with spermatozoa [2]. Tese interactions are typifed by attachments between bacteria and spermatozoa, agglutination phenomena, and morphologic alterations of spermatozoa [3]. Some investigators have also reported evidence for soluble spermatotoxic factors. Among the bacterial species that interact with spermatozoa are well known causative pathogens of genitourinary infections such as E. coli, U. urealyticum, M. hominis and C. trachomatis [4,5]. Te most discussed and tested organism concerning male infertility is Escherichia coli, as the most important pathogen causing prostatitis and epididymitis. Several authors have postulated a negative efect of E. coli on sperm motility. Further, Moretti et al. carried out electron microscopic studies that revealed the ultrastructural damage of the sperm membrane in all parts of the spermatozoon, especially in the mid-piece, causing both swelling of the mid-piece and tail invagination on incubation with E. coli [1]. Tus, it was suggested that E. coli/spermatozoa-interaction may be a two-step process: i.e. adhesion to and subsequent destruction of the sperm membrane [3]. In an earlier work done in our laboratory, we had also isolated a strain of E. coli from semen sample of male attending infertility clinic, impeding the motility of spermatozoa by agglutination in vitro. Te ~71 kDa Sperm Agglutinating Factor (SAF), responsible for agglutination could also be isolated and purifed [6]. Te SAF was found to be spermicidal at higher concentrations and could lead to adverse efects on various sperm parameters. Intravaginal administration of SAF in Balb/c mouse led to infertility [7]. Because SAF is specifcally responsible for the above mentioned phenomenons, we hypothesized that generation of anti-SAF antibodies could be exploited as a preventive measure against SAF induced damage. To experimentally evaluate this hypothesis, anti- SAF antiserum was raised in Balb/c mouse and examined as an antidote against SAF mediated efects. Material and Methods Animals Sexually mature 5-6 weeks old male (25 ± 2 g) and 4-5 weeks old female (22 ± 2 g) Balb/c mice were used in the present study. Te animals were maintained under standard laboratory conditions (12 h *Corresponding author: Dr. (Mrs) Vijay Prabha, Professor, Department of Microbiology, Punjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India, Tel: + 91-172- 2534140; Fax: +91-172-2541770; E-mail: satishvijay11@yahoo.com Received October 01, 2013; Accepted October 29, 2013; Published November 06, 2013 Citation: Kaur K, Rishi P, Prabha V (2013) Amelioration of Sperm Agglutinating Factor (SAF) Induced Sperm Impairment by Anti-SAF Polyclonal Antibody. Andrology 2: 109. doi: 10.4172/2167-0250.1000109 Copyright: © 2013 Kaur K, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Abstract Background: We have previously isolated a Spermagglutinating Factor (SAF) from Escherichia coli, which was capable of causing sperm agglutination and impairment of sperm parameters viz. apoptosis, premature acrosome loss and inhibition of Mg 2+ dependent ATPase activity in vitro. In addition, intravaginal administration of Balb/c mice with SAF resulted in infertility. To provide evidence that SAF plays an important role in impairment of sperm parameters and infertility, anti-SAF antiserum was raised and its application as a therapeutic intervention against SAF induced damage was evaluated. Methods: Effect of anti-SAF antiserum was evaluated against SAF mediated adverse effects on sperm parameters. Spermagglutination was observed using light microscopy and Mg 2+ dependent ATPase activity was estimated in terms of release of inorganic phosphate. Sperm apoptosis and acrosome status were evaluated by means of fow cytometery and fuorescent microscopy, respectively. Further, the impact of anti-SAF antiserum was also seen on fertility outcome in mice Results: Results showed that immunization of mice with SAF lead to the generation of high titer specifc antibodies. Raised anti-SAF antiserum could neutralize all the biological effects of SAF in contrast to control antiserum. Furthermore, intravaginal application of anti-SAF antiserum along with SAF rendered mice fertile. Conclusion: Here we provide evidence that SAF plays an imperative role as all the detrimental effects induced by SAF whether in vitro or in vivo were blocked on simultaneous incubation with anti-SAF antiserum. Present work also highlighted the effcacy of the anti-SAF antiserum as a curative measure against SAF. Amelioration of Sperm Agglutinating Factor (SAF) Induced Sperm Impairment by Anti-SAF Polyclonal Antibody Kiranjeet Kaur, Praveen Rishi and Vijay Prabha* Department of Microbiology, Punjab University, Chandigarh, India Andrology-Open Access A n d r o l o g y : O p e n A c c e s s ISSN: 2167-0250 Andrology, an open access journal ISSN: 2167-0250