IBYME   02675
INSTITUTO DE BIOLOGIA Y MEDICINA EXPERIMENTAL
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Evaluation of the immunogenic properties of testicular sperm protein CRISP2 and its potential relevance for fertility
Autor/es:
WEIGEL MUÑOZ M, ; BLUGUERMANN C; ERNESTO J. I.,; ERNESTO J. I.,; BATTISTONE M. A.,; COHEN D. J.; CUASNICU P.S.
Lugar:
buenos aires
Reunión:
Congreso; 3rd Latin-American Symposium of Reproductive Immunology; 2011
Resumen:
Introduction: Results from our group indicate that testicular sperm protein CRISP2 (Cysteine Rich Secretory Protein 2) is involved in gamete fusion. Based on this, in the present study we investigated whether CRISP2, as its epididymal homologue CRISP1, is able to both elicit an immune response and inhibit fertility. Materials and Methods: male and female rats were injected with bacterially-expressed CRISP2 coupled to MBP (4 injections of 100 ug every 3 weeks), using CRISP1 and MBP as controls and sera were collected at different intervals after immunization. The anti-CRISP2 levels and tissue specificity of the sera were evaluated by ELISA and Western blot, respectively. The testes and epididymides were examined by histology and fertility was analyzed by natural mating. Results: ELISA of immune sera revealed that the administration of CRISP2 raised antibodies in both sexes, with levels that increased as a function of time. In contrast to the negative reaction observed for control groups, sera from CRISP2-immunized animals specifically recognized the native protein in both testicular and sperm extracts. Histological examination revealed no signs of orchitis or epididymitis.  Finally, results revealed that while male and female rats injected with CRISP1 exhibited the reported decrease in fertility, those immunized with CRISP2 presented fertility rates not different from controls. Conclusions: Together, these observations confirmed the immunogenicity of CRISP2 and indicate that, differently from CRISP1, the presence of antibodies against CRISP2 does not compromise animal fertility, supporting the idea that the anti-CRISP2 antibodies would not be involved in immune infertility.