Immunology: Assessment of the relevance of zona pellucida antibodies in follicular fluid of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) patients

Abstract

The presence of anti-zona pellucida antibodies in the follicular fluid of 11 women who underwent in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer was analysed. Only infertile couples with tubal or unexplained pathologies were included in our study, which was aimed at investigating the relationship between anti-zona pellucida antibodies in follicular fluid and failed fertilization. Whether or not these antibodies were present in some or all follicles in the same patient was also investigated. Out of 55 follicular fluids analysed, 36.3% were positive to the test and no fertilization was observed in oocytes from these follicles, while 63.6% were negative, and the oocyte fertilization rate associated with these was 51.4%. The presence of anti-zona pellucida antibodies was positively correlated with the degree of fertilization failure (P < 0.001 chi 2 test).

Ovarian Autoimmune Disease and Ovarian Autoantibodies

“…132 Likewise, ovarian antibodies were associated with reduced fertilization 21 and pregnancy rates. 21,26,98,121 The results reported by Papale et al 109 are particuarly intriguing. Follicles within an ovary appear to be heterogeneous with respect to zona pellucida antibodies.…”

Immunoglobulin to zona pellucida 3 mediates ovarian damage and infertility after contraceptive vaccination in mice

“…However, ZP antibodies are strongly associated with premature ovarian failure [26,27] and unexplained infertility [28,29], and ovarian antibodies are more likely to be present in women where in vitro fertilization procedures are unsuccessful [30,31]. Our data implicate ZP-specific antibody in the pathophysiology of follicle loss in humans through disrupted zona pellucida formation in developing follicles.…”

Detection of antizona pellucida antibodies in the sera from premature ovarian failure patients by a highly specific test

“…Papale et al (35) showed low fertilization rates in patients with anti-ZP antibodies in IVF treatment cycles. Mardesic et al (36) reported that fertilization failure after standard IVF occurred in most cases with anti-ZP antibodies, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection was the method of choice in anti-ZP antibody-positive infertile couples.…”