IMMUNOLOGICAL CONTROL OF FERTILITY IN THE MOUSE: A COMPARISON OF SYSTEMIC AND INTRAVAGINAL IMMUNIZATION

Abstract

Summary. Systemic iso-immunization of the random bred Q strain of mice with spermatozoa resulted in a significant reduction (P<0·001) of litter size. Re-immunization depressed fertility further to less than half the control level. Serum antibody levels were assayed both by a passive haemagglutination test adapted for detecting antibodies against mouse spermatozoa, and by a sperm-agglutination test. There was a significant regression of numbers of offspring on both sperm-agglutination and haemagglutination titres. Intravaginal iso-immunization with mouse spermatozoa failed to alter the fecundity in short-term breeding periods or during long-term mating or to enhance the sterility induced by systemic injections.