Abstract
The objectives of this research project were to utilize monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), which were generated against human fertilization-related sperm antigens, to test for their cross-reactivity with bovine spermatozoa. The cross-reactive mabs were then tested for their ability to inhibit bovine fertilization in vitro. Finally, functional studies were performed to determine how one of the mabs was affectin(Y fertilization. The mabs chosen for this project were generated against the human sperm antigens FA-1, SAA-1, and SP- I 0. Western blot analysis revealed that the mabs identified antigens of similar molecular weight to human FA-1, SAA- 1, and SP- I 0 in bovine spermatozoa. Indirect immunotluorescence, using epifluorescence and laser scanning confocal microscopy, demonstrated that the antigens were localized to regions of bovine sperm similar to their human homologues. The antifertilization effects of the mabs were then tested in bovine in vitro fertilization (IVF) trials, using oocytes from ovaries obtained at an abattoir. The addition of the FA- I mAb to the fertilization medium resulted in a linear decrease in fertilization rates (p [ 0.01). The S-AA-1 mAb had no affect (p ] 0. 10) on fertilization rates under any conditions used in this study. Three separate experiments demonstrated that SP- IO i-nabs and polyclonal antibodies reduced (p [ 0.01) fertilization rates of bovine oocytes in vitro. A sperm-zona pellucida tight bindin(i assay was performed in conjunction with the first SP-10 mAb IVF experiment which showed that the mAb reduced (p [ 0.01) the number of sperm tightly bound to the zona. Functional trials were performed to determine how SP-I 0 mabs affected fertilization. The results showed that SP-I 0 mabs reduced (p [ 0.01) the motility of capacitated sperm, reduced (p [ 0.01) the ability of capacitated sperm to undergo the acrosome reaction, and had no ettect (p ] 0. IO) on the viability of bovine sperm when compared to the null ascites control.
Coonrod, Scott Alexander (1995). Development and testing of a bovine model for sperm antigen immunocontraception. Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University. Libraries. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /200902.