Anti‐human gonadotropin antibodies generated during in vitro fertilization (IVF)‐related cycles: Effect on fertility of rhesus macaques

Abstract

Administration of human gonadotropins such as hFSH, hLH, and hCG to rhesus macaques can result in formation of anti-human gonadotropin antibodies. To determine whether the presence of these antibodies interferes with subsequent fertility, sixteen female rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) with known antibody levels were bred with male rhesus macaques. The presence of antibodies did not interfere with conception or maintenance of pregnancy. Furthermore, antibody titers did not increase during gestation or following the resolution of pregnancy.

Somatic cell nuclear transfer using transported in vitro-matured oocytes in cynomolgus monkey

“…Previously, when using natural hormones (e.g., human urinary FSH, hCG, equine chorionic gonadotropin) animals became refractory after only one cycle of stimulation (Bavister et al, 1986). It is likely that the monkeys produce antibodies and become less responsive to the exogenous gonadotropins in the repeat stimulation cycles (Ottobre and Stouffer, 1985;Bavister et al, 1986;Iliff et al, 1995;VandeVoort et al, 2003). This result was similarly to that reported by Wolf in 1999 (19.3/retrieval in initial cycle and 12.3/retrieval in repeat stimulation cycle).…”

“…Although IVM is still not fully optimized in all species, the birth of progeny following IVM, and then nuclear transfer, in sheep (Wells et al, 1997(Wells et al, , 1998b, pig (Betthauser et al, 2000), and goat (Keefer et al, 2001) establishes the feasibility of using IVM oocytes in these species. However, treatments of monkeys with exogenous gonadotropins especially HCG, can initiate an immune response, and eventually the animals no longer, respond to the human hormones (Ottobre & Stouffer, 1985;Bavister et al, 1986;Iliff et al, 1995;VandeVoort et al, 2003). To obtain multiple oocytes in macaques, female monkeys are treated with human gonadotropic hormones to induce development of multiple follicles .…”

“…In this study, the initial cycle was more productive (19.1 oocytes/retrieval) than the repeat stimulation cycle (11.7 oocytes/retrieval, Table 1); however, there was no difference in maturation rate after IVM between the first and second cycles. However, the generation of neutralizing antibodies did not have any deleterious effects on future reproductive capability, because of the failure of antibodies to cross-react appreciably with monkey LH or FSH and monkey chorionic gonadotropins (Iliff et al, 1995). It is likely that the monkeys produce antibodies and become less responsive to the exogenous gonadotropins in the repeat stimulation cycles (Ottobre and Stouffer, 1985;Bavister et al, 1986;Iliff et al, 1995;VandeVoort et al, 2003).…”

“…To obtain multiple oocytes in macaques, female monkeys are treated with human gonadotropic hormones to induce development of multiple follicles (VandeVoort et al ., 1989). However, treatments of monkeys with exogenous gonadotropins especially HCG, can initiate an immune response, and eventually the animals no longer, respond to the human hormones (Ottobre & Stouffer, 1985; Bavister et al ., 1986; Iliff et al ., 1995; VandeVoort et al ., 2003). It had been reported that initial cycles were more productive than repeated stimulation cycles (Wolf et al ., 1999).…”

Generation of Transgenic Cynomolgus Monkeys Overexpressing the Gene for Amyloid-β Precursor Protein

“…In humans and marmosets, oocytes can be collected repeatedly through ovarian stimulation by hFSH, and the collected oocytes contribute to in vivo development after in vitro fertilization or ICSI [20][21][22]. In rhesus monkeys, oocytes were obtained successfully from a second cycle of superovulation by hFSH [23]. Previously, we reported that oocytes were collected successfully after a second round of hFSH stimulation, but it was not known whether these oocytes could contribute to in vivo development after ICSI.…”