Immunological Aspects of Reproduction in Mammals (eBook)

Front Cover 1
Immunological Aspects of 
4 
Copyright Page 5
Table of Contents 10
PREFACE 6
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 8
CHAPTER 1. THE CELLULAR BASIS OF THE IMMUNE RESPONSE 14
The lymphoid system 14
The major histocompatibility complex 15
Cellular and humoral immunity 17
Conclusions 23
References 23
CHAPTER 2. THE STRUCTURE AND SYNTHESIS OF IMMUNOGLOBULINS 26
Immunoglobulin structure 26
Gene organization and immunoglobulin synthesis 28
Monoclonal antibodies as tools in the study of characterization, classification and inter-species relationships of animal immunoglobulins 31
References 37
CHAPTER 3. FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF ANTIBODIES 40
Introduction 40
Complement fixation 41
Phagocytosis 42
Clearance of immune complexes 43
Distribution of immunoglobulins 44
Specificity and biological function 45
Antibodies as regulators of the immune system—the idiotypic network 45
References 46
CHAPTER 4. IMMUNOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF REPRODUCTION—AN OVERVIEW 48
Introduction 48
Immune responses to seminal antigens 49
Immunology of pregnancy 53
The transfer of passive immunity 60
Immunological manipulation of reproduction 60
Conclusions 61
References 62
CHAPTER 5. IMMUNE RESPONSES TO SPERM: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS 68
Introduction 68
Experimental induction of antisperm immunity and infertility in female animals 69
Assays for antisperm antibodies in human populations: some recent developments 71
Pathological antisperm immunity as a cause of sub-fertility in human populations 73
Immune responses to sperm following vasectomy 77
Immunological unresponsiveness of females to inseminated sperm 80
Acknowledgements 83
References 83
CHAPTER 6. IMMUNOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF SPERM SELECTION AND TRANSPORT 90
Immunology, physiology and spermatozoa 90
Leucocytosis 92
Phagocytosis of spermatozoa 94
Selection of spermatozoa in female tracts 96
Capacitation 97
Immunosuppression by spermatozoa 97
Conclusion 99
References 99
CHAPTER 7. DETECTION OF EARLY PREGNANCY USING IMMUNOLOGICAL METHODS 104
Introduction 104
Early pregnancy detection in the human 104
Early pregnancy detection in non-human primates 113
Early pregnancy detection in farm animals 113
Summary 118
References 118
CHAPTER 8. IMMUNOBIOLOGY OF THE HUMAN TROPHOBLAST 122
Introduction 122
HLA antigens 123
Trophoblast membrane isoantigens 126
Trophoblast–lymphocyte common antigens 129
Oncotrophoblast membrane antigens 131
Placental alkaline phosphatase (P1-ALP) 132
Transferrin receptor 133
Fc. receptors 135
Other membrane receptors 136
Heterogeneity of trophoblast populations 137
Summary 138
References 138
CHAPTER 9. MECHANISMS OF NON-REJECTION OF THE FETO–PLACENTAL ALLOGRAFT 146
Introduction 146
The uterus as a special site for allografts 147
The complete separation of maternal and fetal circulations 151
The trophoblast fulfils an anatomically-separating and immunologically-quarantining role 151
Mothers mount an immunoprotective response to their allogeneic fetuses 155
During pregnancy the functional activity of the immune response machinery of the mother may be blunted or depressed, specifically or non-specifically, as a consequence of some sort of immunoregulatory activity 159
Conclusion 163
Acknowledgements 163
References 163
CHAPTER 10. IMMUNOLOGICAL STUDIES ON PREGNANCY IN THE MOUSE 166
Introduction 166
Regulators of immune changes in pregnancy 167
The maternal immune response to fetal antigens 171
Conclusions 191
References 192
CHAPTER 11. IMMUNOLOGICAL STUDIES ON FETO–MATERNAL RELATIONSHIPS IN EQUINE PREGNANCY 196
Introduction 196
The influence of MHC compatibility on endometrial cup development 197
Expression of MHC antigens by endometrial cup cells 202
General discussion 204
Acknowledgements 205
References 205
CHAPTER 12. STUDIES OF STEROIDS AND PROTEINS IN RELATION TO THE IMMUNOLOGY OF PREGNANCY IN THE SHEEP 208
Occurrence of compounds associated with the pre-implantation phase 208
Interactions of fetal and maternal cells at implantation 210
Effects of progesterone depletion in early pregnancy 212
Progesterone in utero–ovarian lymph 215
Steroids, proteins and lymphocyte transformation 217
Summary 225
Acknowledgements 226
References 226
CHAPTER 13. IMMUNOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF HUMAN PREGNANCY AND ITS DISORDERS 232
Introduction 232
The extent and nature of antigenic contact between mother and fetus 233
Non-trophoblast cell contact between mother and fetus 236
Antigenic compatibility between mother and fetus 238
The humoral response to the fetus 240
Cell-mediated immunity 247
References 253
CHAPTER 14. THE ACQUISITION OF IMMUNITY BY THE FETUS 264
Antibody transport actuality 264
Antibody transport is selective 264
Anatomical transport pathway 266
Histological transport pathway 266
Cell biological transport pathway 267
Comparative cellular aspects of antibody transport 273
Molecular aspects of the uptake organelle 274
Acknowledgements 274
References 274
CHAPTER 15. THE ACQUISITION OF IMMUNITY BY THE NEONATE 278
Introduction 278
Compartmentalization of the immune response 279
Predictions and constraints for maternal passive immunity 281
Derivation and neonatal handling of maternal milk antibody 282
Passive antibody functions 293
Protective effects of colostrum and milk mediated by cellular components 296
Deleterious effects of components of milk 298
References 299
CHAPTER 16. ACTIVE IMMUNIZATION AGAINST SPERM AND SPERM AUTOANTIGENS 304
Introduction 304
Spermatozoa autoantigens 304
Auto- and isoimmune reactions induced against spermatozoa antigens 308
Protective mechanisms and immune regulation of anti-spermatozoa auto- and isoimmune reactions 312
Conclusion 313
References 313
CHAPTER 17. IMMUNOLOGICAL INTERFERENCE WITH THE PROPERTIES OF THE ZONA PELLUCIDA 318
Introduction 318
Biological properties of the zona pellucida 319
Molecular mechanisms of sperm binding 320
Molecular basis of the block to polyspermy 324
Anti-zona antibodies: in vitro 325
Anti-zona antibodies: in vivo 327
Conclusions 335
References 335
CHAPTER 18. FERTILITY CONTROL BY IMMUNIZATION AGAINST hCG 340
Introduction 340
Roles of hCG 340
Fertility control by immunization against hCG 342
Acknowledgements 355
References 355
CHAPTER 19. ACTIVE IMMUNIZATION AGAINST LH–RH IN THE MALE 358
Introduction 358
LH–RH antibody production 359
Immunoneutralization of LH–RH in vivo 361
Site of action of LH–RH antibodies 363
Effects on the anterior pituitary 364
Effects on the testes and accessory sex glands 367
Practical applications of LH–RH immunization 370
Acknowledgements 373
References 373
CHAPTER 20. ACTIVE IMMUNIZATION AGAINST LH–RH IN THE FEMALE 376
Introduction 376
Active immunization against LH–RH 376
Development of the LH–RH antibody titre and the oestrous cycle 377
Effects of active immunization against LH–RH on gonadotrophins 380
Effect of active immunization against LH–RH on prolactin 385
Effects of active immunization against LH–RH on ovarian steroids 386
Overall effects of active immunization against LH–RH 387
References 389
CHAPTER 21. REVERSIBILITY OF THE EFFECTS OF ACTIVE IMMUNIZATION AGAINST LH–RH 392
Introduction 392
Methods of reversal 393
Conclusions 409
Acknowledgements 409
References 409
CHAPTER 22. PASSIVE IMMUNIZATION AGAINST LH–RH: ELUCIDATION OF THE ROLE OF LH–RH IN CONTROLLING LH AND FSH SECRETION AND LH–RH RECEPTORS 412
Introduction 412
The female 412
The male 425
Conclusions 428
References 429
CHAPTER 23. EFFECTS OF IMMUNIZATION AGAINST GONADOTROPHINS ON MALE REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTIONS 432
Introduction 432
Immunization against LH 432
Immunization against FSH 435
Acknowledgements 437
References 438
CHAPTER 24. EFFECTS OF IMMUNIZATION AGAINST STEROID HORMONES ON MALE ENDOCRINOLOGY 440
The brain–pituitary–testicular axis 440
Body morphology/function 450
Potential practical applications of immunization against steroid hormones in the male 454
Conclusions 455
References 455
CHAPTER 25. ACTIVE IMMUNIZATION AGAINST STEROID HORMONES FOR INCREASING FECUNDITY 458
Introduction 458
Steroid immunity to increase fecundity 459
Follicle growth and development 464
Concentrations of circulating hormones 472
The peri-ovulatory period 479
Post-fertilization wastage and sex ratios 483
Acknowledgements 485
References 485
CHAPTER 26. PASSIVE IMMUNIZATION AGAINST STEROID HORMONES IN THE FEMALE 488
Introduction 488
Production of antisera for passive immunization 488
Control of follicular growth and ovulation 493
Mode of action of steroid passive immunization 501
Pregnancy and parturition 507
Conclusions 508
References 508
CHAPTER 27. THE SYMPOSIUM IN PERSPECTIVE 514
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS 526
INDEX 532