Failure of female baboons (Papio anubis) to conceive following immunization with recombinant non-human primate zona pellucida glycoprotein-B expressed in Escherichia coli.
Progress in the development of an immunocontraceptive vaccine based on zona pellucida glycoproteins has been hampered due to observed ovarian dysfunction associated with immunization using these as immunogens. In this study four female baboons (Papio anubis) were immunized with recombinant bonnet monkey (Macaca radiata) zona pellucida glycoprotein-B (r-bmZPB) expressed in Escherichia coli and conjugated to diphtheria toxoid (DT) using Arlacel-A and Squalene as adjuvants. All the immunized animals elicited a good antibody response against r-bmZPB, continued to have ovulatory cycles and showed no disturbance in the cyclicity. In presence of high titres of circulating anti-bmZPB antibodies (>2x10(3) antibody units), the immunized animals failed to conceive following mating with males of proven fertility. Pregnancy was observed in the immunized animals subsequent to the decline in anti-r-bmZPB antibody titres. These results, though preliminary, suggest that immunization with ZPB may be used for immunocontraception without obvious ovarian dysfunction.
Govind
C K
CK
Gamete Antigen Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110 067, India.
Gupta
S K
SK
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D003267:Contraception; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D007114:Immunization; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D010060:Ovulation; D010215:Papio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011817:Rabbits; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000276:immunology*; D000072216:Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins
D000906:Antibodies; D004527:Egg Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000072216:Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins