Vectored gene delivery for lifetime animal contraception: Overview and hurdles to implementation

There is a need for permanent, non-surgical methods of contraception for many animal species. Here we discuss the hypothesis that transgene-mediated expression of fertility inhibiting molecules such as monoclonal antibodies, ligands for cell surface receptors, receptor decoys, or small RNAs can provide such a method, which we term vectored contraception. We outline the technologies involved, progress made, and discuss challenges to implementation.