Vectored antibody gene delivery mediates long-term contraception

Curr Biol. 2015 Oct 5;25(19):R820-2. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2015.08.002.

Abstract

Development of non-surgical methods of long-term or permanent contraception remains a challenge. Towards this objective, we show that intramuscular injection of a replication-incompetent, recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) designed to express an antibody that binds gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), a master regulator of reproduction in vertebrates, results in long-term infertility in male and female mice. Female mice are also rendered infertile through rAAV-dependent expression of an antibody that binds to the zona pellucida (ZP), a glycoprotein matrix that surrounds the egg and functions as a sperm-binding site. Many proteins known or suspected to be important for reproduction can be targeted, potentially reversibly, using this approach, which we refer to as vectored contraception (VC).

Publication types

  • Letter
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / genetics
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / metabolism*
  • Contraception / methods*
  • Dependovirus / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Transfer Techniques*
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / metabolism*
  • Injections, Intramuscular
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Zona Pellucida / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone