Antifertility effect of active immunization with ZP4 glycoprotein family of porcine zona pellucida in hamsters.
Female golden hamsters were immunized with solubilized porcine zona pellucida (s-PZP) or ZP4 glycoprotein family isolated from s-PZP by preparative SDS-PAGE. Both antigen preparations induced production of antibodies which reacted not only with porcine zona pellucida but also with the hamster zona pellucida. The hamsters immunized with solubilized porcine zona pellucida mainly produced antibodies reactive to ZP3, while the hamsters immunized with ZP4 mainly produced antibodies reactive to ZP4. The former animals became permanently infertile but the infertility in the latter animals was temporary and they became pregnant later. Histological studies revealed that the ovarian follicles in hamsters immunized with s-PZP were completely destroyed leaving only atrophic follicle-like cell clusters, while in the ovaries of hamsters immunized with ZP4 a number of small follicles with oocytes remained intact. These observations are encouraging for the further characterization of the ZP4 antigens as candidates for the development of a contraceptive vaccine.
Hasegawa
A
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hyogo Medical College, Japan.
Koyama
K
K
Inoue
M
M
Takemura
T
T
Isojima
S
S
D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003269:Contraception, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004527:Egg Proteins; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000276:immunology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008647:Mesocricetus; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D013552:Swine; D014611:Vaccination; D000072216:Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins
D000941:Antigens; D004527:Egg Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D000072216:Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins