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Human Sperm-Specific Peptide Vaccine That Causes Long-Term Reversible Contraception¹

^a Division of Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio 43614

A novel dodecamer peptide sequence, YLP₁₂, was identified on human sperm that is involved in oocyte binding. We investigated its immunocontraceptive effects in a murine model. A vaccine was prepared by conjugating the synthetic YLP₁₂ peptide with the binding subunit of recombinant cholera toxin. Vaccination of female mice by i.m. or intranasal routes without any additional adjuvant induced a sperm-specific immune response in serum and the vaginal tract that caused a long-term contraceptive state. Fertility was fully regained when antibody reactivity diminished at 305–322 days. The contraceptive effect was also completely reversed voluntarily by intravaginal administration of the peptide. Antibodies affected fertility at the prefertilization stage by inhibiting sperm capacitation and the acrosome reaction, and sperm-oocyte binding. The peptide sequence is an epitope of a 50 ± 5-kDa membrane protein localized on the acrosome and tail of spermatozoa. Thus, the sperm-specific YLP₁₂ is an attractive candidate for contraceptive vaccine.

First decision: 11 February 2002.

¹ Supported by National Institutes of Health grant HD24425 to R.K.N.

² Correspondence: Rajesh K. Naz, Division of Research, Health Education Building Room 211, Medical College of Ohio, 3055 Arlington Avenue, Toledo, OH 43614-5806. FAX: 419 383 4473; rnaz{at}mco.edu

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