CHARACTERIZATION OF ANTIBODIES GENERATED AGAINST A CONSERVED PORTION OF OVIDUCTAL GLYCOPROTEIN (OGP) AND ENDOGENOUS HAMSTER OGP AND THEIR ABILITY TO DECREASE SPERM BINDING TO THE ZONA-PELLUCIDA IN-VITRO

PROBLEM: The effect of antibodies generated against hamster oviductal glycoprotein (OGP) on sperm binding to the zona pellucida (ZP) was eva luated. METHOD OF STUDY: Antibodies against a 17-amino-acid sequence o f the OGP core protein (amino acids 52-68) and the denatured hamster O GP protein were generated, characterized, and tested in an in vitro sp erm binding assay. RESULTS: Sperm binding was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) when oviductal oocytes were incubated for 2 hr with 4 or 8 mg/ml of immune IgG of both antibodies when compared with normal rabbi t IgG. A fluorescence assay showed binding of both antibodies to the e ndogenous OGP associated with the ZP of ovulated hamster oocytes. CONC LUSIONS: These results suggest that OGP may be a potential immunocontr aceptive target because both antibodies significantly decreased sperm binding to the ZP of oviductal oocytes. Immunocontraception may be acc omplished by attempting to generate active immunity to a recombinant O GP, to the region selected in this study (amino acids 52-68) or to som e other region of the core protein.