Findlay J K, Russell D L, Doughton B, Tsonis C G, Borchers C, Forage R G
Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Vic., Australia.
Reprod Fertil Dev. 1994;6(2):265-7. doi: 10.1071/rd9940265.
Immunization against the amino-terminal peptide (alpha N) of the alpha 43 subunit of inhibin was shown previously to reduce fertility in ewes. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of active immunization of ewes against alpha N on egg recovery and fertilization rates. Ewes were immunized against alpha N immunogen, and were given 800 I.U. of pregnant mare's serum gonadotrophin at the end of treatment with intravaginal progesterone to synchronize the oestrous cycles. Control ewes received adjuvant only. The ewes were run with fertile rams, and 4 days after withdrawal of the progesterone device the oviducts were flushed to recover eggs and luteal structures on the ovaries were recorded. Eggs were recovered from 17/19 (90%) control ewes compared with 4/16 treated ewes (25%) (P < 0.01), and the egg recovery rates were 76% (45/59) and 17% (7/42) respectively (P < 0.001). The mean number of corpora lutea (CL) per ewe were similar (3.1 +/- 1.4 v. 2.6 +/- 1.0) but several CL in the treated ewes did not appear to have ruptured, and 2 treated ewes had cystic follicles and no CL. There were no apparent differences in either the fertilization rates or the stages of development of fertilized eggs between treated and control ewes. Antibody binding levels in follicular fluid were approximately half those found in peripheral plasma. It is concluded that immunization of ewes against alpha N leads to lowered fertility by suppressing ovulation, implicating alpha N in the normal ovulatory process.
先前的研究表明，针对抑制素α43亚基的氨基末端肽（αN）进行免疫可降低母羊的生育能力。本研究的目的是检测对母羊主动免疫αN对卵子回收和受精率的影响。用αN免疫原对母羊进行免疫，并在阴道内给予孕酮处理结束时注射800国际单位的孕马血清促性腺激素，以使发情周期同步。对照母羊仅接受佐剂。将母羊与可育公羊放在一起饲养，在取出孕酮装置4天后冲洗输卵管以回收卵子，并记录卵巢上的黄体结构。19只对照母羊中有17只（90%）回收了卵子，而16只处理过的母羊中有4只（25%）回收了卵子（P<0.01），卵子回收率分别为76%（45/59）和17%（7/42）（P<0.001）。每只母羊的黄体平均数量相似（3.1±1.4对2.6±1.0），但处理过的母羊中有几个黄体似乎没有破裂，2只处理过的母羊有卵泡囊肿且没有黄体。处理过的母羊和对照母羊在受精率或受精卵发育阶段方面没有明显差异。卵泡液中的抗体结合水平约为外周血浆中的一半。得出的结论是，对母羊免疫αN会通过抑制排卵导致生育能力降低，这表明αN参与正常的排卵过程。
