How far from a hormone-based contraceptive vaccine?
Antibodies of appropriate specificity are able to block the action of hormones which are obligatory for successful reproduction. Thus, if immunisation using such hormones can provoke adequate titres of bioneutralizing antibodies in sexually mature individuals, the vaccinee becomes infertile ('immunocontraception') for as long as sufficient titres of the antibodies are maintained. In the case of hormones that are required for the development of sexual maturity in the male, immunisation of young animals can prevent sexual maturation ('immunocastration'). The hormones which have been targeted are gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) for both immunocastration and immunocontraception, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) for immunocontraception.
Department of Immunology and Molecular Pathology, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, 46 Cleveland St., London W1T 4JF, UK. p.delves@ucl.ac.uk
Peter J
PJ
Delves
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology; D003269:Contraception, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive / Q000276:immunology*
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone