Immunization with a DNA vaccine of testis-specific sodium-hydrogen exchanger by oral feeding or nasal instillation reduces fertility in female mice.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of immunization with a DNA vaccine of testis-specific sodium-hydrogen exchanger (tsNHE) via oral feeding or nasal instillation on fertility in female mice and to look at its potential mechanism.


METHODS
Prospective, research study.


METHODS
Institution-affiliated research laboratory.


METHODS
Sexual mature BALB/c mice.


METHODS
Female mice immunized orally or nasally with the DNA vaccine at 2-week' intervals.


METHODS
Number of newborns and fertility rate of the vaccinated female mice were scored.


RESULTS
We identified a novel testis-specific sodium-hydrogen exchanger, tsNHE, which is localized to the principal piece of sperm flagellum. Immunization of female mice with the tsNHE DNA vaccine via oral feeding or nasal instillation statistically significantly decreased fertility rate and the newborn numbers compared with the controls. The antiserum or vaginal fluid from the tsNHE cDNA vaccinated female mice could specifically recognize the principal piece of sperm tail and triggered sperm agglutination. The antibodies also showed a statistically significant inhibitory effect on in vitro sperm motility and fertilization.


CONCLUSIONS
The sodium-hydrogen exchanger might be an excellent target molecule for developing a new contraceptive.
Liu
Tao
T
State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China.
Huang
Jun-Cheng
JC
Lu
Cui-Ling
CL
Yang
Jun-Ling
JL
Hu
Zhao-Yuan
ZY
Gao
Fei
F
Liu
Yi-Xun
YX
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D003270:Contraceptive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007322:Instillation, Drug; D008098:Litter Size / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers / Q000276:immunology*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology*; D013737:Testis / Q000276:immunology*; D014162:Transfection; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology
D003270:Contraceptive Agents; C480499:Slc9c1 protein, mouse; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers; D019444:Vaccines, DNA