Fully effective contraception in male and female guinea pigs immunized with the sperm protein PH-20

Immunization of male and female animals with extracts of whole sperm cells is known to cause infertility. Also, men and women who spontaneously produce antisperm antibodies are infertile but otherwise healthy. Although the critical sperm antigens are unknown, these observations have led to the propo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) 1988-10, Vol.335 (6190), p.543-546
Main Authors: Primakoff, Paul, Lathrop, William, Woolman, Laura, Cowan, Ann, Myles, Diana
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adhesion
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Birth control
Carrier Proteins - immunology
Contraception
Contraception, Immunologic
Female
Females
Fertility
Guinea Pigs
Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics
Immunity (Disease)
Immunization
Infertility
Male
Medical sciences
Other methods of contraception. Sterilization
Seminal Plasma Proteins
Spermatozoa - immunology
Swine
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Summary:Immunization of male and female animals with extracts of whole sperm cells is known to cause infertility. Also, men and women who spontaneously produce antisperm antibodies are infertile but otherwise healthy. Although the critical sperm antigens are unknown, these observations have led to the proposal that sperm proteins might be useful in the development of a contraceptive vaccine. The guinea pig sperm surface protein PH-20 is essential in sperm adhesion to the extracellular coat (zona pellucida) of the egg, a necessary initial step in fertilization. Here, we report that 100% effective contraception was obtained in male and female guinea pigs immunized with PH-20. Antisera from immunized females had high titres, specifically recognized PH-20 in sperm extracts, and blocked sperm adhesion to the egg zona pellucida in vitro. The contraceptive effect was long-lasting and reversible: immunized females, mated at intervals of six to fifteen months after immunization, progressively regained fertility.
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/335543a0