reactivity of anti-ZP2 antibodies with mammalian ZP was analysed in sections of human and bovine ovaries. mAb ZP2-24 reacted with ZP2 protein in human and bovine ovaries. Using human ovary sections, distinct staining of the zona pellucida and cytoplasmic antigens was observed in secondary follicles. Only a faint immunoreaction was visible in the cytoplasm of oocytes in early developmental stages. Similar but less intense results were obtained in the bovine ovary. mAb ZP2-20, however, revealed

more »

... fferent results. In human and bovine ovary sections positive staining was almost exclusively apparent in the ooplasm of primary and primordial follicles. No reaction was observed in the ZP or ooplasm of secondary follicles. Conclusion: We could demonstrate that mAb ZP2-20 and ZP2-24 generated against a homologous synthetic ZP2 peptide react with the synthetic peptide used as antigen. Both mAb detect ZP2 protein. Because mAb ZP2 antibodies detect mammalian ZP2 protein, they can be used as marker for ZP2 protein. However, depending on the developmental stage of the oocyte, differences in immunoreaction of mAb with ZP2 protein were observed. Our data suggest that the ZP2 peptide consists of two epitopes that are detectable either in early or late developmental stages. 11.00-11.15 0-025. Effects of chlorinated hydrocarbons on the acrosome reaction of human spermatozoa in vitro