Contraceptive potential of antibodies to the zona pellucida |
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Authors: | C J Henderson M J Hulme R J Aitken |
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Institution: | MRC Reproductive Biology Unit, Centre for Reproductive Biology, Edinburgh, U.K. |
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Abstract: | The notion of a contraceptive vaccine based on gamete-specific surface antigens was first proposed over a decade ago, as the result of in-vitro and in-vivo studies, and in recent years has been the subject of intensive research. In particular, the zona pellucida has attracted much attention as a potential target for immunological intervention in the fertilization process. Such is the rapidly-expanding nature of research into the biochemical and biological characterization of this structure, that a review of the implications for the development of a contraceptive vaccine seems timely. |
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