Immunology of gametes and embryo implantation
Infertility is an increasing problem in many societies. The success rate of assisted reproduction is still below 30%, although the treatments and techniques have improved continuously. An important but often underestimated aspect of fertility and infertility is the immunology of gametes and the early embryo. Sperm is a potential target for autoimmunity in men and alloimmunity in women, but physiologically, such immunoreactions do not occur. Although the preimplantation embryo is semiallogeneic to the mother, no destructive reaction occurs but her uterus prepares a unique, finely balanced immun
eBook, English, ©2005
Karger, Basel, ©2005