title: In vitro and in vivo studies evaluating recombinant plasmid pCXN2-mIzumo as a potential immunocontraceptive antigen.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Study on feasibility of pCXN2-mIzumo as a potential immunocontraceptive antigen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two groups of mice received 100 microg/mouse plasmids of pCXN2-mIzumo and pCXN2 respectively. RT-PCR Immunofluorescence assay and ELISA were performed to observe pCXN2-mIzumo expression and antibody response in the inoculated mice. Sperm penetration assay and animal mating were employed to detect differences of in vitro fertilization (IVF) rate and mean litter size between the experimental and control groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Izumo cDNA positive bands were detected in sample from mice immunized with pCXN2-mIzumo. IgG response started to rise at 2 weeks after first boost and reached the highest antibody titers at 2 weeks after third boost of immunization with pCXN2-mIzumo in the experimental mice. In vitro fertilization rate in the experimental group (11.57%) was significantly lower than that in control (36.60%). Significant difference of mean litter size between female experimental and control groups was observed, and there was significant negative correlation between individual anti-serum titers and litter size (r = -0.308, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  pCXN2-mIzumo plasmid possesses appreciable anti-fertility potential.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Tian-Hua
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: De-Gang
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qing-Dong
authors.initials: QD
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Lian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: De-Yu
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003269:Contraception, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008098:Litter Size / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D009132:Muscles / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; C498177:Izumo1 protein, mouse; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive; D019444:Vaccines, DNA