Characterisation of the antibody response to a totally synthetic immunocontraceptive peptide vaccine based on LHRH.

The epitope was homologous in most mammals. The cysteine residue was important for immune function but it was present in either reduced or oxidised form to equal effect. 20 nmol dose of the epitope elicited the highest titres of anti-LHRH antibody responses, which correlated with the finding that the numbers of antibody secreting cells (ASCs) were greatest in both the spleen and the bone marrow obtained from the mice received three doses of 20 nmol of the epitope.