Possible mechanisms of mammalian immunocontraception.
Ecological and conservation programs in ecosystems around the world have experienced varied success in population management. One of the greatest problems is that human expansion has led to the shrinking of wildlife habitat and, as a result, the overpopulation of many different species has occurred. The pressures exerted by the increased number of animals has caused environmental damage. The humane and practical control of these populations has solicited the scientific community to arrive at a safe, effective, and cost-efficient means of population control. Immunocontraception using zona pellucida antigens, specifically porcine zona pellucida (pZP), has become one of the most promising population control tools in the world today, with notable successes in horses and elephants. A conundrum has risen where pZP, a single vaccine, successfully induces an immunocontraceptive effect in multiple species of mammals. This review describes the most current data pertaining to the mammalian zona pellucida and immunocontraception, and from these studies, we suggest several potential mechanisms of immunocontraception.
Barber
M R
MR
Department of Large Animal Medicine, and Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
Fayrer-Hosken
R A
RA
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D002236:Carbohydrate Conformation; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003269:Contraception, Immunologic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D010053:Ovary / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D012449:Safety; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions; D013552:Swine; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000276:immunology*; D000072216:Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins
D004527:Egg Proteins; D037102:Lectins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D000072216:Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins