Reversible Immunosuppression of Fertility in the Rat Following Immunization by a Liposome Incorporated Spermatozoal Polypeptide Fraction

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Abstract
A rat spermatozoal polypeptide with 40 amino acid residues and an N-terminal amino acid residue of Lys was purified to homogeneity by recycling high pressure liquid chromatography. Following incorporation of the peptide into pure phosphatidylcholine liposomes and immunization of female Wistar rats, a significant reduction in fertility rate occurred (.chi.2 = 6.4, p < 0.01). Following a 4-month recovery period after immunization, fertility rates returned to normal. No adverse effects of the immunization on vital organs could be detected.