Further studies of antisera on the fertilization of mouse, rat, and hamster eggs in vivo and in vitro
Tsunoda, Y.; Chang, M.C.
International Journal of Fertility 22(3): 129-139
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0020-725X PMID: 24006 Document Number: 121512
Anti-mouse ovary antiserum produced in rabbits showed 2-5 precipitin bands for the mouse, rat and hamster ovarian extracts on agar-gel diffusion plates. In vitro and in vivo fertilization of mouse eggs was inhibited in the presence of unabsorbed and absorbed anti-mouse ovary antiserum but not in the presence of such antiserum absorbed with the ovary. A single injection of females with such serum inhibited fertilization in mice but not in rats and hamsters. By intrauterine insemination with spermatozoa exposed to these antisera, anti-rat or hamster sperm antiserum inhibited fertilization in rats, mice and hamsters while anti-mouse T + E antiserum only inhibited fertilization in mice. Fertilization of mouse eggs in vitro, was also inhibited in the presence of anti-rat and hamster sperm antiserum or anti-mouse T + E antiserum. Passive immunization of female mice, rats and hamsters with anti-sperm or T + E antisera did not inhibit fertilization in these species, but injection of anti-mouse T + E antiserum 5 or 10 days before ovulation inhibited fertilization in mice to a certain extent. Fertilizing capacity of spermatozoa from male mice injected with anti-T + E antiserum daily for 3 or 7 days was decreased as tested in vitro. In vivo fertilization of rat eggs by intrauterine insemination with spermatozoa exposed to serum obtained from female rats isoimmunized with T + E and in vitro fertilization of mouse eggs were also inhibited in the presence of serum obtained from female mice isoimmunized with mouse sperm or T + E. Following an i.p. injection of anti-ovary antiserum produced in rabbits, the fertilizability of mouse eggs, with or without follicular cells, and that of mouse and hamster ovarian oocytes was suppressed in vitro, but fertilization of zona-free mouse eggs was not affected. Following an injection of anti-T + E or anti-sperm antiserum the fertilizability of mouse eggs and of ovarian oocytes of hamster was not affected.