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Characterization of Antibodies Generated Against a Conserved Portion of Oviductal Glycoprotein (OGP) and Endogenous Hamster OGP and Their Ability to Decrease Sperm Binding to the Zona Pellucida In Vitro
Author(s) -
Schmidt A.,
Mavrogianis P.A.,
O'DayBowman M.B.,
Jaffe M.C.,
Verhage H.G.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0897.1997.tb00316.x
Subject(s) - zona pellucida , hamster , biology , antibody , sperm , glycoprotein , microbiology and biotechnology , in vitro , zona pellucida glycoprotein , andrology , oocyte , biochemistry , immunology , embryo , medicine , botany
PROBLEM: The effect of antibodies generated against hamster oviductal glycoprotein (OGP) on sperm binding to the zona pellucida (ZP) was evaluated. METHOD OF STUDY: Antibodies against a 17‐amino‐acid sequence of the OGP core protein (amino acids 52–68) and the denatured hamster OGP protein were generated, characterized, and tested in an in vitro sperm binding assay. RESULTS: Sperm binding was significantly decreased ( P < 0.05) when oviductal oocytes were incubated for 2 hr with 4 or 8 mg/ml of immune IgG of both antibodies when compared with normal rabbit IgG. A fluorescence assay showed binding of both antibodies to the endogenous OGP associated with the ZP of ovulated hamster oocytes. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that OGP may be a potential immunocontraceptive target because both antibodies significantly decreased sperm binding to the ZP of oviductal oocytes. Immunocontraception may be accomplished by attempting to generate active immunity to a recombinant OGP, to the region selected in this study (amino acids 52–68) or to some other region of the core protein.