Contraceptive potential of the porcine zona pellucida vaccine in the African elephant (loxodonta africana)
| Autor: | Jay F. Kirkpatrick, Richard A. Fayrer-Hosken, T. Ulrich, G. Honneyman, Henk J. Bertschinger, D. Grobler, N. Lamberski |
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| Rok vydání: | 1999 |
| Předmět: |
endocrine system
Zona pellucida glycoprotein Time Factors Porcine zona pellucida Swine Elephants Egg protein Receptors Cell Surface Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins African elephant South Africa Food Animals biology.animal medicine Animals Contraception Immunologic Small Animals Zona pellucida Zona Pellucida Immunocontraception Vaccines Membrane Glycoproteins biology urogenital system Equine Captive elephants Egg Proteins biology.organism_classification Virology medicine.anatomical_structure Pellucida Immunoglobulin G Antibody Formation embryonic structures Female Animal Science and Zoology |
| Zdroj: | Theriogenology. 52:835-846 |
| ISSN: | 0093-691X |
| Popis: | Immunocontraception has been successful in controlling free-roaming equids; however, what is the potential for the immunocontraceptive control of the African elephant (Loxodonta africana)? The porcine zona pellucida (pZP) glycoproteins share antigenic domains with the African elephant zona pellucida (elZP) glycoproteins, and anti-zona pellucida serum antibodies have been successfully stimulated. To determine the cross-reactivity of the pZP and elZP, immunocytochemistry was evaluated by light and electron microscopy. Specifically, the binding of polyclonal antibodies against total heat-solubilized-porcine zona pellucida to fixed elephant ovary sections was evaluated. The elZP of primary, secondary and tertiary follicles was recognized by the rabbit-anti-pZP serum, but there was no apparent recognition of the primordial follicles. The ability of anti-pZP antibodies to recognize the elZP demonstrates that there is molecular homology between the pZP and elZP glycoproteins. This homology makes the African elephant a candidate for pZP immunocontraception. Three captive elephants were vaccinated with 400 micrograms pZP with a synthetic trehalose dicorynomycolate (S-TDCM) adjuvant. The elephants received 2 boosters of 600 micrograms pZP at 4 wk and 10 m.o. after the primary vaccination. The vaccinated female elephants developed significant (P < 0.05) titers to pZP over prevaccination levels. These levels persisted for 12 to 14 m.o. after the third vaccination. This preliminary evidence shows that the female elephant can develop significant serum antibody levels to pZP. These levels of antibodies are comparable to those required in horses for successful immunocontraception. Thus, porcine zona pellucida immunocontraception might be used to control elephant populations. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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