Immunological Studies on Fertility and Sterility. III. Effect of Isoimmunization with Blood and Semen on Fertility in Cattle

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Abstract
An attempt was made to determine the importance of antigen-antibody reactions as potential causes of lowered fertility in cattle. Seventeen heifers exhibited anaphylactic-like reactions after repeated intravenous injections of bull semen. Antibodies against bull sperm were not detectable by laboratory tests made on their sera. When the heifers were bred to the bull whose semen they had received, 8 conceived on 1st service and 3 of the remaining 9 on the 2d. Results from 1st service were not different from those obtained with the same bulls on nonimmunized cows. The conception rate on 2d service was low, but not significantly so. The hypothesis was then tested that local antibody production is a factor in lowered fertility. Twelve heifers received repeated intrauterine injections of a bull''s blood. Antibodies were not demonstrable in the reproductive organs throughout the treatment period, but were produced in the sera of 6 of the heifers[long dash]probably in response to antigens which passed into the circulation. When the 12 heifers were bred to the bull used as the blood donor, 8 conceived on 1st service and 2 on the 2d. There was no indication that this treatment had reduced fertility. The results would be considered more critical if it had been possible to demonstrate antibodies in the lumen of the reproductive organs of the heifers.