Department of Veterinary Surgery and Reproduction, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

    Twenty mature female rabbits were divided into two equal groups. The first group was immunized with zona pellucida (ZP) antigen and the second group was injected with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at the corresponding time of immunization (control group). When bred by male rabbits, the conception rate in the immunized group (30%) was significantly lower (P<0.001) than 100% recorded for the unimmunized (control) group.  The litter size was 1.67 ± 0.50 for the immunized group and was significantly lower than 7.3 ± 0.82 for the control group (P< 0.001).  It is concluded that ZP antigens may become better candidates for contraception than steroids. 

Key words: Rabbit, immunization, zona pellucida antigen, conception rate.