Objective: Use of monoclonal antibodies against sperm proteins in human medicine. Design: Experimental and clinical studies. Setting: 1 Dep. Biology and Biochemistry of Fertilization, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Prague, 2 Laboratory IVF, Iscare IVF, Prague, 3 Dep. of Immunobiology, Institute for the Care of Mother and Child, Prague. Methods: Monoclonal antibodies against human sperm intra-acrosomal and cell surface proteins were used for quantitative analysis of these proteins by the immunofluorescence test in samples of human sperm of good and poor qualities. Results: The detection of intra-acrosomal proteins was decreased and, on the other hand, detecti- on of surface proteins was the same or higher in pathological spermatozoa. Conclusion: Monoclonal antibodies can be used for diagnostics of sperm pathology (quantitative detection of proteins) and for evaluation of the physiological state of sperm cells (state of acroso- me before or after acrosome reaction). Finally, monoclonal antibodies could be useful for selecti- on of a suitable method of fertilization (IUI, standard IVF, ICSI) in the laboratories of assisted reproduction.

        Key words: monoclonal antibodies, infertility, sperm pathology, assisted reproduction, IVF met- hods