Page 1225 - Veterinary Immunology, 10th Edition
P. 1225
similar vaccine is used to control estrus and estrus-related
VetBooks.ir misbehavior. Similar vaccines may be used as contraceptives or to
treat benign prostatic hyperplasia in dogs. If dogs are immunized
with bovine or ovine luteinizing hormone (LH), the autoantibodies
produced may neutralize their own LH. Similarly, it is possible to
produce autoantibodies that neutralize LH-releasing hormone. As a
result, the reproductive cycle is abolished in females, and testicular,
epididymal, and prostatic atrophy occurs in males. Other
experimental immunocontraceptive vaccines have been directed
against prostaglandin F , reproductive steroids, the LH receptor,
2α
and zona pellucida protein.
Sheep immunized with polyandroalbumin (androstenedione-7-
carboxyethyl thioester linked to human serum albumin) have about
23% more lambs than untreated sheep. The ewes are given two
doses of this vaccine before mating. It is believed that the vaccine
induces autoantibodies that reduce serum androstenedione levels.
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