Contraceptive effect of sperm-agglutinating monoclonal antibodies in rabbits

Biol Reprod. 1997 Jan;56(1):153-9. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod56.1.153.

Abstract

Immune infertility in humans correlates clinically with the presence of anti-sperm antibodies that trap (agglutinate) sperm in semen and cervical mucus. To test whether sperm-agglutinating antibodies can be effective contraceptive agents, several mouse anti-rabbit sperm (MARS) sperm-agglutinating monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were developed that rapidly and completely agglutinate sperm: MARS-M3 (IgM), MARS-G16 (IgG3), and MARS-G17 (IgG3). Contraceptive efficacy of these mAbs was tested by mixing the mAb with 0.1 ml semen (approximately 1/5 of a whole ejaculate) immediately before artificially inseminating rabbits paracervically. This paracervical dose of semen provided a rigorous test since it delivered several thousand times more fertilizing doses than does a human ejaculate. All of the mAbs were contraceptively effective, and MARS-G16 reduced the number of fetuses per animal by 88% and 95% with doses of 150 microg and 2 mg, respectively. The contraceptive efficacy of the MARS mAbs in the rabbit suggests that human sperm-agglutinating mAbs may be effective agents for vaginal contraception in humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal*
  • Antigens / immunology
  • Blotting, Western
  • Complement System Proteins / immunology
  • Contraception, Immunologic*
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
  • Immunization, Passive
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Rabbits
  • Sperm Agglutination*
  • Spermatozoa / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens
  • Complement System Proteins