Infertility in mice induced by a recombinant ectromelia virus expressing mouse zona pellucida glycoprotein 3

• Published in: Biology of reproduction Vol. 58; no. 1; pp. 152 - 159
• Main Authors: Jackson, R.J, Maguire, D.J, Hinds, L.A, Ramshaw, I.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison, WI Society for the Study of Reproduction 01.01.1998
• Subjects: Animals; ANTIGENE; ANTIGENOS; ANTIGENS; Autoimmune Diseases; AUTOIMMUNITY; Biological and medical sciences; Contraception, Immunologic; Ectromelia virus - genetics; Egg Proteins - genetics; Egg Proteins - immunology; ENFERMEDADES INMUNOLOGICAS; ESTERILIDAD FEMENINA; Female; FEMALE INFERTILITY; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic Vectors; GLICOPROTEINAS; GLYCOPROTEINE; GLYCOPROTEINS; IMMUNE RESPONSE; Immunization; IMMUNOCONTRACEPTIVE VACCINES; IMMUNOLOGICAL DISEASES; INFERTILITE FEMELLE; Infertility, Female - immunology; MALADIE IMMUNOLOGIQUE; Medically important nuisances and vectors, pests of stored products and materials: population survey and control; Membrane Glycoproteins - genetics; Membrane Glycoproteins - immunology; MICE; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Nuisances; ORTHOPOXVIRUS; OVA; OVULE; OVULO; RATON; Receptors, Cell Surface; Recombinant Proteins - immunology; RECOMBINANT VACCINES; REPONSE IMMUNITAIRE; RESPUESTA INMUNOLOGICA; SOURIS; SYNTHETIC VACCINES; VACCIN SYNTHETIQUE; VACCINATION; VACUNA SINTETICA; VACUNACION; Zona Pellucida - immunology; Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins; Chordopoxvirinae; Immunization; Nuisance; Recombinant virus; Orthopoxvirus; Biological control; Rodentia; Contraception; Glycoproteins; Vaccine; Zona pellucida protein; Virus; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Ectromelia virus; Mouse; Poxviridae; Contraceptive
• ISSN: 0006-3363; 1529-7268
• DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod58.1.152

Population control has become a major problem in many wildlife species. Fertility control through immunocontraception has been proposed as a method for reducing population size. We have tested the concept that immunocontraception can be achieved with a recombinant ectromelia virus expressing an ovary-specific antigen, the mouse zona pellucida 3 (ZP3) glycoprotein. Female mice infected with the recombinant virus produced autoimmune antibodies against ZP3 and were infertile for 5-9 mo after infection. For almost half the infertile mice, immunity to ZP3 was associated with a disruption of ovarian follicular development and the depletion of mature follicles without observable oophoritis. Mice returned to fertility as the anti-ZP3 antibody level in the serum decreased. Reinfection of the mice with the recombinant virus boosted the anti-ZP3 response and restored infertility