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ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Investigation of Recombinant Mouse Sperm Protein Izumo as a Potential Immunocontraceptive Antigen
Author(s) -
Wang DeGang,
Huang TianHua,
Xie QingDong,
An Gang
Publication year - 2008
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.1600-0897.2007.00571.x
Subject(s) - sperm , antigen , antibody , recombinant dna , western blot , andrology , biology , antibody titer , immunology , titer , medicine , biochemistry , gene
Problem To determine if the recombinant mouse Izumo (mIzumo) could be used as a potential immunocontraceptive antigen. Method of study The recombinant mIzumo fused with 6His tag (6His‐mIzumo) was purified by immobilized Ni 2+ affinity chromatography. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot were used to detect anti‐6His‐mIzumo activities of serum from the mice immunized with 6His‐mIzumo. Inhibition of the anti‐6His‐mIzumo antibody on mouse sperm–egg fusion in vitro was performed using the zona free oocytes and acrosome reacted sperm. Fertility of the 6His‐mIzumo immunized male and female mice was compared with control mice. Results The recombinant mIzumo was successfully produced. Female and male mice inoculated with 6His‐mIzumo developed a specific serum antibody and the highest antibody titer lasted at least 6 weeks. The serum anti‐6His‐mIzumo antibody almost completely blocked mouse sperm–egg fusion in vitro. However, there was no significant reduction in fertility for both male and female mice immunized with 6His‐mIzumo compared with control mice. Conclusion The circulated anti‐mIzumo antibody can block mouse sperm–egg fusion in vitro but has no effect on fertility in vivo . It seems that application of Izumo as a candidate antigen in development of contraceptive vaccine needs further investigation.