The presence of complement in human cervical mucus and its possible relevance to infertility in women with complement-dependent sperm-immobilizing antibodies

Abstract

Full-complement component lytic activity was measured in human midcycle cervical mucus, using a sensitive 51Cr release hemolytic assay. The level measured was 11.5% of the activity of complement in an equal volume of undiluted human serum. The relevance of this level of complement to complement-dependent sperm-immobilizing antibody activity was studied. After 1 hour's incubation with mucus levels of complement, immobilization of about 50% of spermatozoa occurred and after 3 hours' incubation, immobilization of about 70% of spermatozoa occurred.