title: Immunogenicity of four complementary deoxyribonucleic acid fragments from rabbit zona pellucida 3 and their effects on fertility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the exact region in different exons of rabbit zona pellucida (ZP)3 involved in recognition and binding between sperm and the ZP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study of a female immunocontraceptive.
  
  
  METHODS
  State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
  
  
  METHODS
  BALB/C mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunization recombinant vaccines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oocyte immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The immunogenicity and effects on fertility of these four fragments we used were different. Except for the ZP domain, the other three fragments of rabbit ZP3 may be useful as antigen to elicit antibodies. Antiserum was specific and obvious. The fertility of mice after immunization decreased slightly compared with the control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most effective fragment that is associated with the sperm binding was from sequences contained in exons 5-8 or oligosaccharide linked to this region. Exons 5-8 or oligosaccharide linked to this region may exist outside of the ZP matrix and be safe for use as the antigen. The ZP domain may be not related to the recognition and binding.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Shu-Qun
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jing-Pian
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000276:immunology*; D007125:Immunogenetics / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000276:immunology; D011817:Rabbits; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology*; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000276:immunology*; D000072216:Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004527:Egg Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D000072216:Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins; C000606521:Zp3 protein, mouse