Immunofluorescence detection of porcine anti-zona pellucida antibodies in sera of infertile women.

Fifty three samples of blood sera of women from infertile couples were investigated for presence of antibodies to zona pellucida. Using the immunofluorescence test, antibodies reacting with porcine zona pellucida could be detected in sera of women with unexplained infertility and also in the sera of a control fertile group. In most cases these antibodies could be adsorbed by porcine erythrocytes, indicating that the erythrocyte-like antigens are present in the porcine zona pellucida, as was confirmed by electron microscopic studies.