title: Cyclic QDE peptide increases fertilization rates and provides healthy pups in mouse.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of cyclic QDE peptide (cQDE), derived from sperm fertilin beta (ADAM2), in mouse in vitro fertilization (IVF) and its harmlessness on pups after embryo transfer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective in vivo and in vitro study in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Murine model in an academic research environment in France.
  
  
  METHODS
  Normal B6CBF1 mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Indirect immunofluorescence was used to evaluate cQDE binding to oolemma. The IVF assays were run in presence of the species-specific tripeptide (cQDE at 100 microM), and embryos were transferred in pseudopregnant mice. Controls were obtained by natural mating and IVF in regular medium followed by embryo transfer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Evaluation of fertilization, litter size, pup fertility and health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biotinylated cQDE peptide binds to oocyte plasma membrane and increases gamete fusion in cumulus-intact IVF assay. Litter size as well as pup development after embryo transfer showed no statistically significant differences compared with controls. Pups born from embryos that were incubated with the peptide were as healthy and normally fertile as control mice over at least three generations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cyclic QDE is harmless and improves mouse IVF pregnancy rates. A randomized prospective clinical trial to evaluate the beneficial effect of cyclic FEE on human IVF is required before its clinical use.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Interaction Gamétique et Fusion des Membranes, EA2717, Institut Alfred Jost, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barraud-Lange
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Naud-Barriant
authors.forename: Béatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ducot
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chambris
authors.forename: Morgane
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bomsel
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ziyyat
mesh_terms: D051722:ADAM Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D019921:Biotinylation; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D000072196:Fertilins; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005306:Fertilization / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000662:veterinary; D008098:Litter Size / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013094:Spermatozoa
chemical_list: D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D051722:ADAM Proteins; C000606454:ADAM2 protein, human; C000606458:Adam2 protein, mouse; D000072196:Fertilins