Effect of Anti-Rat Ovary Antiserum on the Fertilization of Rat, Mouse and Hamster Eggs in vivo and in vitro

Abstract

Anti-rat ovary antiserum prepared in the rabbit was examined in agar-gel diffusion plates. No band was formed against rat spermatozoa and hamster ovary and only one weak band against mouse ovary, although 2–4 bands were formed against rat serum, testis, ovary and six other rat tissues. Anti-rat ovary antiserum significantly inhibited fertilization of rat eggs in vitro as compared with normal serum, irrespective of whether the antiserum was added to the sperm suspension or involved treatment of rat eggs with or without follicular cells. Fertilization also failed in many rat eggs without a precipitate on their zona pellucidae. The fertilization rate was also significantly depressed following uterine insemination of rat spermatozoa exposed to anti-ovary antiserum. A single injection of anti-rat ovary antiserum inhibited fertilization of rat and mouse eggs more severely than that of hamster eggs. In vitro fertilization of mouse eggs was completely inhibited in the presence of anti-rat ovary antiserum while that of hamster eggs was significantly inhibited. It appears that the anti-rat ovary antiserum produced in the rabbit is not species specific so far as its ability to inhibit fertilization in vivo or in vitro is concerned.