Detection of antizona pellucida antibodies in the sera from premature ovarian failure patients by a highly specific test.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a highly specific test for the detection of antizona pellucida (ZP) antibodies in the sera from premature ovarian failure (POF) patients.


METHODS
Laboratory study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Twenty-seven idiopathic POF patients, 30 control women, and 30 healthy males.


METHODS
Anti-ZP antibodies were detected by the microdot assay using a very small amount of human ZP or porcine ZP. The effect of anti-ZP antibodies on sperm-ZP binding was examined by hemizona assay.


METHODS
Results from the microdot assay and hemizona assay.


RESULTS
By the microdot assay using human ZP, the sera from POF patients reacted significantly stronger than those of control women and healthy males. However, no obvious difference could be found by the same assay using porcine ZP among these three groups. Anti-ZP antibodies against sera from some POF patients showed significant blocking effects on sperm-ZP binding assessed by hemizona assay. Anti-ZP antibodies were detected in 7 of 27 POF patients, while none were detected in control women and healthy males.


CONCLUSIONS
Some idiopathic POF patients have anti-ZP antibodies in their sera, which were detected with high specificity by a newly developed microdot assay using a very small amount of human ZP.
Takamizawa
Satoru
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.
Shibahara
Hiroaki
H
Shibayama
Tamaho
T
Suzuki
Mitsuaki
M
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D016649:Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / Q000276:immunology*; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000276:immunology; D013552:Swine / Q000276:immunology; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies