Evaluation of zona pellucida antigens as potential candidates for immunocontraception
Paterson, M.; Wilson, M.R.; van Duin, M.; Aitken, R.J.
Journal of Reproduction and Fertility. Suppl 50: 175-182
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0449-3087 PMID: 8984181 Document Number: 466682
Antibodies directed against the zona pellucida (ZP) have been demonstrated to interrupt sperm-egg recognition in vitro, yet the mechanisms by which anti-zona antibodies exert this contraceptive effect in vivo are unclear. Emerging evidence suggests that active immunity against zona antigens both induces infertility through an antibody-mediated interruption of sperm-egg interaction and disrupts normal ovarian function. This study used the marmoset monkey to assess the consequences of inducing active immunity against purified recombinant human ZP3 and human ZP3 peptides. Although recombinant human ZP3 induced infertility in these animals, it was associated with suppression of folliculogenesis and depletion of the primordial follicle pool. Immunization with continuous human ZP3 peptides, identified by epitope mapping studies, did not induce ovarian dysfunction, but the antibody titers were insufficient to suppress fertility significantly and consistently. Future homologous active immunization trials will depend on generation of epitope maps of the marmoset ZP3 sequence.