title: Evaluation of contraceptive potential of a novel epididymal sperm protein SFP2 in a mouse model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sperm flagellar protein 2 (SFP2), which was earlier identified using a novel combinatorial approach, was evaluated for its contraceptive potential in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male mice were actively immunized with two synthetic peptides of SFP2. Antipeptide antibody was characterized by Western blot and indirect immunofluorescence. Immune response was monitored, and mating studies were performed 6 and 22 weeks post-immunization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Antibodies to the SFP2 peptide 1 recognized a doublet at 220- to 230-kDa region only in the epididymal protein extract. Peptide 1 antibody recognized the cognate protein on spermatozoa from mouse, rat, and human. Histological analysis of testis and epididymis of the immunized mice indicated no deleterious effect. Incubation of sperm with the immune sera of peptide 1 caused significant reduction in motility and viability but did not agglutinate sperm. Only synthetic peptide 1 gave rise to high-level antibodies in all the immunized mice, which on mating resulted in reduced fertility rate (20%) when compared with PBS control animals (100%). The antibody levels in the immunized males declined by 22 weeks post-immunization, resulting in 100% reinstatement of fertility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data provide an experimental basis for the development of effective contraceptive vaccine based on new epididymal target.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gamete Immunobiology, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Parel, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Shagufta A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Sudhir V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Jadhav
authors.forename: Amol R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Suryawanshi
authors.forename: Gauri S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Bhonde
authors.forename: Rahul K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Gajbhiye
authors.forename: Vrinda V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Khole
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003269:Contraception, Immunologic; D030501:Epididymal Secretory Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000276:immunology; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D007114:Immunization; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011506:Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000276:immunology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic
chemical_list: D030501:Epididymal Secretory Proteins; D011506:Proteins; C549775:SPEF2 protein, mouse; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic