Methods of inhibiting fertility

摘要

The present invention features compositions and methods for inhibiting fertility or inducing contraception in a mammal. The compositions comprise a nucleic acid molecule encoding all or part of a zona pellucida peptide. In preferred embodiments, the peptide is a zona pellucida subunit 3, especially 3a or 3b. In especially preferred embodiments, the peptide is a porcine zona pellucida. The nucleic acid can be incorporated into an expression vector. The methods for inhibiting fertility or inducing contraception in a mammal comprise the step of administering a nucleic acid molecule encoding all or part of a zona pellucida peptide.