Methods for altering fertility

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for enhancing fertility by reducing the activities and/or levels of circulating glycoprotein hormones having lutropin (LH) activity. The molecules of the invention are antibodies or other binding agents that reduce the biological activities of LH. The present invention also relates to novel methods for devising and/or selecting antibodies to specific portions of proteins including LH and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to permit their biological activities to be reduced to desired degrees. The present invention also relates to the preparation of single subunit gonadotropins and gonadotropin antagonists for use in stimulating and inhibiting fertility and for controlling ovarian hyperstimulation. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention pertains to a method for stimulating fertility in mammals by reducing the activity of glycoprotein hormones having luteinizing hormone activity in circulation and thereby stimulating the production of follicle stimulating hormone which comprises administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a binding agent that binds luteinizing hormone.

1 - 72 . (canceled)  
     
     
         73 . A method for stimulating fertility in mammals by reducing the activity of glycoprotein hormones having luteinizing hormone activity in circulation and thereby stimulating the production of follicle stimulating hormone which comprises administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a binding agent that binds luteinizing hormone.  
     
     
         74 . The method according to  claim 73 , wherein the mammal is female.  
     
     
         75 . The method according to  claim 73 , wherein the mammal is a human and the luteinizing hormone is human luteinizing hormone.  
     
     
         76 . The method according to  claim 73 , wherein the binding agent binds to an epitope on the β-subunit of luteinizing hormone at a position that remains exposed when luteinizing hormone binds to a luteinizing hormone receptor.  
     
     
         77 . The method according to  claim 76 , wherein the binding agent binds one of the residues between positions 70-80 of the β-subunit of luteinizing hormone.  
     
     
         78 . The method according to  claim 77 , wherein the binding agent binds one of the residues between positions 74-77 of the β-subunit of luteinizing hormone.  
     
     
         79 . The method according to  claim 73 , wherein the binding agent is an antibody.  
     
     
         80 . The method according to  claim 79 , wherein the antibody is a nonneutralizing antibody and the method further comprises reducing but not eliminating the activity of the glycoprotein hormone having luteinizing hormone activity.  
     
     
         81 . The method according to  claim 80 , wherein the nonneutralizing antibody is B105.  
     
     
         82 . The method according to  claim 80 , wherein the nonneutralizing antibody is B110.  
     
     
         83 . The method according to  claim 73 , wherein the method comprises regulating ovulation in female humans.