Block of hamster fertilization by anti-ovary antibody.

Antibody produced in rabbits against hamster ovary blocked fertilization of golden hamster eggs in vitro by binding to the surface of the zona pellucida and rendering it impenetrable to spermatozoa. The antibody was also effective in blocking fertilization in vivo. An intraperitoneal injection of the antibody into females resulted in the complete inhibition of fertilization for approximately 12 days, i.e. three oestrous cycles. This temporary sterility was apparently due to the binding of the antibody to the zona pellucida of oviducal and ovarian oocytes, and dot due to a failure of sperm ascent or capacitation in the female genital tract. Neither the oestrous cycle nor ovulation was affected by the antibody injection.