GLYCODELINS - ROLE IN REGULATION OF REPRODUCTION, POTENTIAL FOR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVELOPMENT AND DIAGNOSIS OF MALE-INFERTILITY

Glycodelins are glycoproteins synthesized in various glands with seque nce homology to beta-lactoglobulins, and named according to their uniq ue oligosaccharide structures, We purified, cloned and sequenced endom etrium- and seminal plasma-derived glycodelins (GdA and GdS respective ly) and found that they are involved in various types of cell-cell com munications, These include interactions between the spermatozoon and t he egg, and between immune cells and their targets, Endometrial GdA in hibits sperm-egg binding, whereas the differently glycosylated GdS in seminal plasma does not. These observations are of interest for reprod uctive physiology, detection of causes of infertility, and they also m ay have potential for contraceptive development.