Human Reproduction, Vol 12, 457-463, Copyright © 1997 by Oxford University Press
NR Moudgal, GS Murthy, KM Prasanna Kumar, F Martin, R Suresh, R Medhamurthy, S Patil, S Sehgal and BN Saxena
A study of 140 days duration was performed to examine if human male
volunteers (n = 5) respond to ovine follicle stimulating hormone (oFSH)
immunization (administered adsorbed on Alugel on days 1, 20, 40 and 70) by
producing antibodies capable of both binding and neutralizing bioactivity
of human FSH. The kinetics of antibody production for both the immunogen
(oFSH) and the cross-reactive antigen (hFSH) were essentially similar. The
volunteers responded only to the first two immunizations. The boosters
given on days 40 and 70 were ineffective, probably because of the presence
of substantial amounts of circulating antibody to oFSH. Of the antibodies
generated to oFSH, 25-45% bound hFSH with a mean binding affinity of 0.65 x
10(9) +/- 0.53 M(-1). The binding capacities at the time of high (30-80
days of immunization) and low (>110 days) titres were 346 +/- 185 and
10.5 +/- 5.8 ng hFSH/ml respectively. During the period of high titre, free
serum FSH (value in normal males 1-5 ng/ml) was not monitorable. A 50
microl aliquot of the antiserum obtained from different volunteers between
days 30 and 80 and on day 140 blocked binding of (125)I-labelled hFSH to
its receptor by 82 +/- 9.7 and 53 +/- 12.2% respectively. The antibody
produced was specific for FSH, and no significant change in the values of
related glycoprotein hormones (luteinizing hormone/testosterone and thyroid
stimulating hormone/thyroxine) were recorded. Seminal plasma transferrin, a
marker of Sertoli cell as well as of seminiferous tubular function, showed
marked reduction (30-90%) following immunization with oFSH. Considering
that endogenous FSH remained neutralized for approximately one sperm cycle
only (65 days), the reduction in sperm counts (30-74%) exhibited by some
volunteers is encouraging. Immunization with oFSH did not result in any
significant changes in haematology, serum biochemistry or hormonal
profiles. There was no production of antibodies capable of interacting with
non- specific tissues. It is concluded that it should be possible to obtain
a sustained long-term blockade of endogenous FSH action in men by using
oFSH as an immunogen. This is a prerequisite for obtaining significant
reduction in the quality and quantity of spermatozoa produced, thus leading
to infertility.
ARTICLES
Responsiveness of human male volunteers to immunization with ovine follicle stimulating hormone vaccine: results of a pilot study
Center for Reproductive Biology and Molecular Endocrinology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  D. Madhukar and S. Rajender Hormonal Treatment of Male Infertility: Promises and Pitfalls J Androl, March 1, 2009; 30(2): 95 - 112. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C.L. Kennedy and M.K. O'Bryan N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis and male fertility research Hum. Reprod. Update, May 1, 2006; 12(3): 293 - 301. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|