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Fully effective contraception in male and female guinea pigs immunized with the sperm protein PH-20

Nature volume 335, pages 543–546 (1988)Cite this article

Abstract

Immunization of male and female animals with extracts of whole sperm cells is known to cause infertility1–5. Also, men and women who spontaneously produce antisperm antibodies are infertile but otherwise healthy6. Although the critical sperm antigens are unknown, these observations have led to the proposal that sperm proteins might be useful in the development of a contraceptive vaccine7–9. The guinea pig sperm surface protein PH-20 is essential in sperm adhesion to the extracellular coat (zona pellucida) of the egg, a necessary initial step in fertilization10. Here, we report that 100% effective contraception was obtained in male and female guinea pigs immunized with PH-20. Antisera from immunized females had high titres, specifically recognized PH-20 in sperm extracts, and blocked sperm adhesion to the egg zona pellucida in vitro. The contraceptive effect was long-lasting and reversible: immunized females, mated at intervals of six to fifteen months after immunization, progressively regained fertility.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, Connecticut, 06032, USA

    Paul Primakoff, William Lathrop, Laura Woolman, Ann Cowan & Diana Myles

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  1. Paul Primakoff
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  2. William Lathrop
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  3. Laura Woolman
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  4. Ann Cowan
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  5. Diana Myles
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Primakoff, P., Lathrop, W., Woolman, L. et al. Fully effective contraception in male and female guinea pigs immunized with the sperm protein PH-20. Nature 335, 543–546 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/335543a0

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