Immunoinhibition of human fertilization in vitro by antibodies to the cumulus oophorus intercellular matrix

Abstract

Summary. Rabbit polyvalent antiserum raised against the solubilized cumulus matrix was a powerful inhibitor of human fertilization in vitro, affecting sperm\p=n-\zonapellucida interaction. Both sperm binding to, and penetration of, the zona pellucida were severely impaired by the anti\p=n-\cumulusmatrix antiserum, whereas no effects of this antiserum on cumulus matrix solubilization or penetration of zona-free human eggs were evident. Moreover, the anti-cumulus antiserum partly neutralized the acrosome reaction-inducing activity of the cumulus matrix. These results warrant further research into the functional specificity of different cumulus matrix components and into the effects of the respective antibodies on reproductive function as a possible lead to a new approach to contraceptive vaccine development.

Effect of anti-human sperm monoclonal antibodies on mouse in vitro fertilization

“…Some monoclonal antibodies raised to specific antigens of zona pellucida, that recognize the same epitope on porcine and human pellucida, block fertilization of human oocytes (1 0). Polyclonal antibodies anticumulus oophorus matrix have also demostrated the ability to inhibit human fertilization in vitro (11) Six, out of the seven MAbs described in this paper, showed human miedpiece and/or tail staining and one (VIC-1) had the antigen localized in human acrosome (7). Surprisingly this acrosome MAb did not inhibit fertilization at any of the concentrations used.…”

Evidence of new antigens in the mouse cumulus oophorus during preovulatory cumulus expansion

“…The implication of cellular antigens in the anti-maturation effect of anti-COC was supported by the finding that previous absorption of anti-COC with isolated cumulus cells removed the inhibitory effect on oocyte meiotic maturation to the same extent as absorption with whole COC (Tesarik et al, 1991). One the other hand, a polyclonal antiserum directed against human cumulus matrix was able to inhibit in vitro fertilization of human oocytes (Tesarik, 1989). It is possible that the 2 characteristic proteins of 70 and 80 kDa which were found in mature COC are the targets of the anti-fertilization effect provoked by anti-COC.…”

“…It has been shown recently that rabbit antiserum against the mouse cumulus-oocyte complexes (anti-COC) inhibited both oocyte maturation and fertilization performance of mature oocytes (Tesarik et al, , 1991. On the other hand, an antiserum raised against a cell-free preparation of the human cumulus intercellular matrix was previously reported to inhibit in vitro fertilization of human oocytes (Tesarik, 1989).…”

Effects of prolonged administration of anti-cumulus oophorus antibody on reproduction in mice

“…Recent observations on multiple roles of the cumulus oophorus, another component of the extracellular coat surrounding the ovulated oocyte, in fertilization (Tesarik et ai, 1988(Tesarik et ai, , 1990aSiiteri et ai, 1988;Meizel et ai, 1990; for review see Tesarik & Testart, 1989) and the demonstrated inhibition of human fertilization in vitro by antibodies to the human cumulus intercellular matrix (Tesarik, 1989) have prompted us to adopt an alternative strategy for contraceptive vaccine devel¬ opment, implicating cumulus antigens as antibody targets. This approach is based on the reasoning that antibodies to components of the extracellular matrix of the human cumulus oophorus, a secretory product of cumulus cells which appears late in preovulatory development, will probably confine the antibody action to only one preovulatory follicle in each cycle, unlike antibodies to the zona pellucida that develops early in folliculogenesis.…”