Prospective study of a female immunocontraceptive.
State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
BALB/C mice.
Immunization recombinant vaccines.
Oocyte immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry.
The immunogenicity and effects on fertility of these four fragments we used were different. Except for the ZP domain, the other three fragments of rabbit ZP3 may be useful as antigen to elicit antibodies. Antiserum was specific and obvious. The fertility of mice after immunization decreased slightly compared with the control.
The most effective fragment that is associated with the sperm binding was from sequences contained in exons 5–8 or oligosaccharide linked to this region. Exons 5–8 or oligosaccharide linked to this region may exist outside of the ZP matrix and be safe for use as the antigen. The ZP domain may be not related to the recognition and binding.