title: Immunization of male mice with B-cell epitopes in transmembrane domains of CatSper1 inhibits fertility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the contraceptive ability of two B-cell epitopes in CatSper1.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vivo study with mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  University laboratory animal service center.
  
  
  METHODS
  BALB/c mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two predicted B-cell epitopes in the extracellular part of transmembrane domains and pore region of CatSper1 were synthesized to immunize male mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fertility, epididymal sperm function, and the presence of specific antibody in immunized males were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant reduction of fertility was observed in mating trial with no evident systemic illness or abnormal mating behavior. Epididymal sperm of epitope-immunized males exhibited impaired ability to fertilize eggs in vitro, and showed sperm agglutination in some animals, while presenting no changes in sperm viability or progressive motility. High titer of antibodies was induced in the sera, and the antibodies' specificity was confirmed. The binding of the antibodies to epididymal sperm of epitope-immunized males was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CatSper members could be the effective and viable targets for immunocontraception. These two epitopes in CatSper1 share high identity between mouse and human and may be effective for fertility regulation in humans.
authors.affiliation: Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Honggang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaofang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Cuicui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Huangtao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Chengliang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xiong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D002470:Cell Survival; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods*; D003269:Contraception, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000276:immunology; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000276:immunology*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011247:Pregnancy; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D015220:Calcium Channels; C488642:Catsper1 protein, mouse; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive