Contraceptive potential of antibodies to the zona pellucida.
The notion of a contraceptive vaccine based on gamete-specific surface antigens was first proposed over a decade ago, as the result of in-vitro and in-vivo studies, and in recent years has been the subject of intensive research. In particular, the zona pellucida has attracted much attention as a potential target for immunological intervention in the fertilization process. Such is the rapidly-expanding nature of research into the biochemical and biological characterization of this structure, that a review of the implications for the development of a contraceptive vaccine seems timely.
Henderson
C J
CJ
MRC Reproductive Biology Unit, Centre for Reproductive Biology, Edinburgh, U.K.
Hulme
M J
MJ
Aitken
R J
RJ
D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003267:Contraception; D003269:Contraception, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010063:Ovum / Q000276:immunology*; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000276:immunology*
D000954:Antigens, Surface