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Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2004; 2: 10.
Published online 2004 March 10. doi: 10.1186/1477-7827-2-10.
PMCID: PMC390271
Sperm specific proteins-potential candidate molecules for fertility control
Anil Suricorresponding author1
1Genes and Proteins Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, India
corresponding authorCorresponding author.
Anil Suri: anil/at/nii.res.in
Received October 29, 2003; Accepted March 10, 2004.
Abstract
The increase in population growth rate warrants the development of additional contraceptive methods that are widely acceptable, free from side effects and less expensive. Immunocontraception, and in particular the targeting of antibodies to gamete-specific antigens implicated in sperm egg binding and fertilization, offers an attractive approach to control fertility. The development of a contraceptive vaccine based on sperm antigen represents a promising approach to contraception. In mammals, fertilization is completed by the direct interaction of sperm and egg, a process mediated primarily by sperm surface proteins. Sperm have proteins that are unique, cell specific, immunogenic and accessible to antibodies. A few of the sperm specific proteins have been isolated and characterized. The antibodies raised against the sperm specific antigens have proved to be extremely effective at reducing sperm-egg interaction in vitro; fertility trials in sub-human primates would eventually prove the effectiveness of the sperm antigens in terms of contraceptive efficacy.