Using an animal's anti-disease protections against its reproductive system
Immunocontraception is the use of an animal's immune system to prevent it from fertilizing offspring. Contraceptives of this type are not currently approved for human use.
Typically immunocontraception involves the administration of a vaccine that induces an adaptive immune response which causes an animal to become temporarily infertile. Contraceptive vaccines have been used in numerous settings for the control of wildlife populations.[1] However, experts in the field believe that major innovations are required before immunocontraception can become a practical form of contraception for human beings.[2]
Thus far immunocontraception has focused on mammals exclusively. There are several targets in mammalian sexual reproduction for immune inhibition. They can be organized into three categories.[3]
Gamete production
Organisms that undergo sexual reproduction must first produce gametes, cells which have half the typical number of chromosomes of the species. Often immunity that prevents gamete production also inhibits secondary sexual characteristics and so has effects similar to castration.[4][5]
Gamete function
After gametes are produced in sexual reproduction, two gametes must combine during fertilization to form a zygote, which again has the full typical number of chromosomes of the species. Methods that target gamete function prevent this fertilization from occurring and are true contraceptives.
Gamete outcome
Shortly after fertilization a zygote develops into a multicellular embryo that in turn develops into a larger organism. In placental mammals this process of gestation occurs inside the reproductive system of the mother of the embryo. Immunity that targets gamete outcome induces abortion of an embryo while it is within its mother's reproductive system.[6][7]
^Kirkpatrick, JF; RO Lyda; KM Frank (2011). "Contraceptive vaccines for wildlife: a review". Am J Reprod Immunol. 66 (1): 40–50. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0897.2011.01003.x. PMID 21501279. S2CID 3890080.
^McLaughlin, EA; RJ Aitken (2011). "Is there a role for immunocontraception?". Mol Cell Endocrinol. 335 (1): 78–88. doi:10.1016/j.mce.2010.04.004. PMID 20412833. S2CID 30055375.
^Naz, RK (2011). "Contraceptive vaccines: success, status, and future perspective". Am J Reprod Immunol. 66 (1): 2–4. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0897.2011.00999.x. PMID 21645164.
^"Repro-Bloc Vaccine Technology". Amplicon Vaccine, LLC. Archived from the original on 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
^"Improvac® A better way forward". Pfizer Animal Health. Archived from the original on 29 April 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
^Hearn JP, Gidley-Baird AA, Hodges JK, Summers PM, Webley GE (1988). "Embryonic signals during the peri-implantation period in primates". J. Reprod. Fertil. Suppl. 36: 49–58. PMID 3142993.
^Tandon, A; C Das; BL Jaikhani; GP Talwar (1981). "Efficacy of antibodies generated by PR-b-hCG-TT to terminate pregnancy in baboons: its reversibility and rescue by medroxyprogesterone acetate". Contraception. 24 (1): 83–95. doi:10.1016/0010-7824(81)90071-8. PMID 6456132.
and 20 Related for: Immunocontraception information
Immunocontraception is the use of an animal's immune system to prevent it from fertilizing offspring. Contraceptives of this type are not currently approved...
module-containing glycoproteins ZP1, ZP2, ZP3 and ZP4 are targets for immunocontraception in mammals. In non-mammals, the zona pellucida is called the vitelline...
a circular economy. Immunocontraception is a non-lethal method of regulating wild-animal population growth. Immunocontraception has been successfully...
used over many years, for example culling, while others such as immunocontraception are still being researched. Culling refers to selective elimination...
was given emergency use authorisation in Cuba and Iran. Various immunocontraception vaccines for animal use, including GonaCon (GnRH linked to keyhole...
prevent them from impregnating female goats. Human population planning Immunocontraception "Definition of Birth control". MedicineNet. Archived from the original...
assumptions, fertility regulation via family planning or cross-species immunocontraception is a more civilised and compassionate policy option than famine,...
from the ovaries of pigs which is used as a source of antigens for immunocontraception. The zona pellucida is a thick membrane that surrounds the unfertilised...
modified viruses that make the target animals infertile through immunocontraception have been created in the laboratory as well as others that target...
pet animal euthanasia will always be unavoidable. Spay and neuter Immunocontraception "Pets by the numbers", HSUS, January 30, 2014. "Why You Should Spay/Neuter...
He argues for introducing non-violent population control through immunocontraception. This would sustain the ecosystem and human population, and allow...
Richardson RT, Hall SH, French FS, et al. (November 2004). "Reversible immunocontraception in male monkeys immunized with eppin" (PDF). Science. 306 (5699):...
Talwar is a medical researcher working in the area of vaccines and immunocontraception. In a 1994 paper, his group demonstrated that women could be vaccinated...
modified viruses that make the target animals infertile through immunocontraception have been created as well as others that target the developmental...
party in Serbia Porcine zona pellucida, a source of antigens for immunocontraception Pregnancy zone protein, a human protein coded by the PZP gene This...
epigenetics, including the development of mouse embryonic transfer, immunocontraception, and the skeletal characteristics of chimerae. She published a highly...
management in New Zealand. Wellington. The ecological challenge of immunocontraception (Barlow, N.D.), Journal of Applied Ecology 2000, 37, 897±902 Norris...
Wildlife Health Lab. Retrieved 2020-05-30. "Questions and answers about immunocontraception". The Humane Society of the United States. Retrieved 2019-09-09....
4528-4535. Kemp, Jeffrey M. and Miller, Lowell A. "Oral vaccination and immunocontraception of feral swine using brucella suis with multimeric gnrh protein expression...
used is porcine zona pellucida (PZP), or derivatives. This form of immunocontraception prevents sperm from accessing an ovum. Another form of deer contraception...
Global Information