title: Immunisation with a plasmid DNA vaccine encoding gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH-I) and T-helper epitopes in saline suppresses rodent fertility.
abstract: Research into active immunisation against gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH-I) has gained widespread acceptance as a means of controlling reproduction and behaviour of farm, companion and wild animals. Many studies describe the use of multiple copies of the self-peptide in linear alignment and conjugation with a large carrier protein to increase the immune response to the peptide. However, problems resulting from carrier protein epitope suppression have seen a diversion of interest into the use of genetic materials to elicit an optimum immune response. In this study, a 533-bp long DNA vaccine was constructed in pcDNAV5-HisB coding for 18.871 kDa GnRH-I-T-helper-V5 epitopes fusion protein. COS1 cells transfected with the vaccine construct were found to release fusion protein into culture supernatant. The vaccine construct (100 microg/mice) in saline solution administered into the anterior quadriceps muscle of ICR male and female mice stimulated antigen-specific IgG antibody responses. Testosterone levels in the vaccinated male mice were significantly (p = 0.021) reduced. A significant reduction in uterine implants were noted following mating between immunised males and control females (p = 0.028), as well as between immunised females and control males (p = 0.004). Histological examination of both the male and female gonads in study week 13 showed atrophy of the seminiferous epithelium and suppression of folliculogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh. hadikhan68@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Mohammad A H
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Kazuhide
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogita
authors.forename: Valerie A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kumasawa
authors.forename: Tateki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsutsui
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kimura
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000276:immunology*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D010957:Plasmids / Q000276:immunology*; D015202:Protein Engineering; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013076:Sperm Count; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive / Q000276:immunology*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D011498:Protein Precursors; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; C050866:progonadoliberin I; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013739:Testosterone