Effects on fertility of immunizing mice with anti-idiotypic antibodies to porcine zona pellucida antigen

• Published in: Journal of reproductive immunology 2002-03, Vol.54 (1), p.81-92
• Main Authors: Li, Dajin, Sun, Xiaoxi, Li, Chaojing, Cai, Lirong, Meng, Yi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-fertile effect; Anti-idiotypic antibody; Antibodies - analysis; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Fertility; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Immunization; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mother. Fetoplacental unit. Mammary gland. Milk; Ovarian pathology; Ovary - pathology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Pregnancy. Parturition. Lactation; PZP antigen; Rabbits; Swine; Vertebrates: reproduction; Zona pellucida; Zona Pellucida - immunology
• ISSN: 0165-0378; 1872-7603
• DOI: 10.1016/S0165-0378(01)00076-6

Objective: to evaluate the effects on fertility by immunization with anti-idiotypic antibodies to porcine zona pellucida (PZP) antigen. Method: anti-idiotypic antibodies (Ab 2) were produced in New Zealand rabbits immunized with 17D3 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) (IgG, Ab 1) to PZP antigen. The antisera were first passed through immuno-affinity chromatography column linked to normal mouse IgG so as to remove the antibody bound to normal mouse IgG The passing elute was then purified by immuno-affinity chromatography using 17D3 mAbs to get the Ab 2. Female BALB/c mice, 5-week-old, were grouped and immunized with the Ab 2, PZP antigen, target antigen of the Ab 1 and normal rabbit IgG, respectively. The treated female mice were mated with male BALB/c mice and sacrificed at gestation day 10. Analyses included ELISA measurement of anti-ZP antibody titer, fetal number determination and evaluation of ovarian histomorphology. Results: the Ab 2 appeared as a single protein band by SDS-PAGE. Shown by a competitive inhibition ELISA, the Ab 2 specifically bound to the variable region of the 17D3 Ab 1. Compared with controls, the female mice immunized with Ab 2 showed a decreased pregnancy rate and a statistically significant reduction in fetal numbers. Histological examination of ovaries demonstrated that Ab 2 exposure interfered less with follicular development than did exposure to PZP. Conclusion: immunization of female mice with Ab 2 to PZP mAbs suppresses fertility and fetal numbers with minimal ovarian pathology.