Hostname: page-component-cb9f654ff-qc88w Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-08-04T09:31:33.169Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Evaluation of two sperm antigens, rSMP-B and YWK-II, as targets for immunocontraception

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 May 2001

Masaya Takikawa
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
Masaharu Kamada
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
Masahiko Maegawa
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
Shuji Yamano
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
Minoru Irahara
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
Toshihiro Aono
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
Siroh Futaki
Affiliation:
Pharmaceutical Science, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
Yasukazu Ohmoto
Affiliation:
Cellular Technology Institute, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Tokushima, Japan.
Samuel S. Koide
Affiliation:
Center for Biomedical Research, The Population Council, New York, USA.

Abstract

To determine whether sperm membrane components, rSMP-B and YWK-II, aresuitable candidates as immunocontraceptives in humans, antifertilityactivities of the antibodies to the peptide fragments, rSMP-229 andrSMP-230 of rSMP-B and YAL-198 of YWK-II, were examined. In a previousreport, anti-rSMP-230 antibody was shown to immobilise human sperm andto block human fertilisation, and the antigen (rSMP-230) to interactwith antisperm antibodies found in sera of infertile women. Antibodyto the second synthetic peptide, rSMP-229, corresponding to a differentsegment of rSMP-B, mimicked the biological activities of the anti-rSMP-230antibody. Anti-YAL-198 antibody significantly, although weakly, inhibitedhuman fertilisation. In the murine model, the anti-rSMP-B antibodies blockedin vitro fertilisation of mouse eggs but had no influence on embryogrowth. Anti-YAL-198 antibody, however, arrested the growth of zygotes. Inconclusion, rSMP-B, a human sperm protein, is a promising candidate in thedevelopment of an immunocontraceptive for human application. A secondsperm protein, YWK-II, is effective as an antifertility immunogen inexperimental animals.

Information

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2001 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable