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Sperm-specific surface antigenicity common to seven animal phyla

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Abstract

While studying the plasma membrane of sperm of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, we developed an antiserum that exhibits unusual reactivity—it cross-reacts with the surfaces of spermatozoa of 28 species representing seven phyla of the animal kingdom. A negative cross-reaction has not been found. This suggests the possible existence of common antigenic determinants on the surface of all animal sperm. We report these preliminary results here because of the broad implications common sperm-surface antigenicity has for the potential development of immunocontraceptive methods.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of California, Davis, California, 95616

    Alina C. Lopo

  2. A-002, Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, 92093

    Victor D. Vacquier

Authors
  1. Alina C. Lopo
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  2. Victor D. Vacquier
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Lopo, A., Vacquier, V. Sperm-specific surface antigenicity common to seven animal phyla. Nature 288, 397–399 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/288397a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/288397a0

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