title: Polyclonal antibodies to a 32-kDa deglycosylated polypeptide from porcine zonae pellucidae will prevent human gamete interaction in vitro.
abstract: The major deglycosylated polypeptides of the porcine zona pellucida (ZP), with molecular masses of 66, 52, 36, and 32 kDa, were purified to homogeneity with one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS/PAGE). Immunofluorescence studies demonstrated that antibodies to the DGZP fraction, and the 66- and 32-kDa polypeptides, bound predominantly to the outer ZP; however, only the first two of these antisera formed an immunoprecipitate around the outer human ZP. In immunoblotting experiments using polyclonal antisera raised to these molecules all four polypeptides exhibited cross-reactivity with each other and their parental glycoprotein families (ZP 1-4). In addition, the antisera were tested in an in vitro human gamete bioassay to determine their contraceptive potential; antibodies to the 32-kDa deglycosylated polypeptide inhibited human gamete interaction to the greatest extent, 5.3% (+/- 1.2%), relative to a control value of 100%.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010063:Ovum / Q000502:physiology*; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions; D013552:Swine; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D006023:Glycoproteins