title: Effect of a DNA vaccine harboring two copies of inhibin α (1-32) fragments on immune response, hormone concentrations and reproductive performance in rats.
abstract: The objective was to investigate the effects of a novel DNA vaccine (pcISI) harboring two copies of inhibin α (1-32) fragments on immune response, hormone concentrations and reproductive performance in rats. Female Wistar rats (n=18 per group) were immunized (twice, 4 wk apart) with 10, 50, or 100 μg (T1, T2 and T3, respectively), of the pcISI plasmid. At 4 wk after the second immunization, plasma antibody titers were higher (P<0.05) in T3 than in either T1 or T2 (0.341±0.123, 0.236±0.068, and 0.251±0.077, respectively, mean±SD). Concurrrently, plasma concentrations of FSH and estradiol were highest (P<0.05) in T3, and were higher (P<0.05) in T1 and T2 than in control groups. For antibody-positive rats, there was a correlation (P<0.01) between antibody titer and FSH concentrations after two pcISI immunizations. The number of mature follicles in the T3 group (46.00±4.65) was higher (P<0.05) than in two control groups (29.25±3.72 and 27.92±3.48), and also higher (P<0.05) than in T1 and T2 (37.17±4.99 and 38.75±7.09). Antibody-positive rats had more mature ovarian follicles than negative rats (46.75±4.23 vs. 35.60±3.38, P<0.05). Moreover, litter size and number of placentas were increased (P<0.05) in the pcISI immunization groups, except for the T1 group, compared to the control groups. In conclusion, the pcISI DNA vaccine successfully induced a humoral immune response, improved reproductive hormone concentrations, stimulated follicular development, and increased number of placentas and litter size. Furthermore, 100 μg yielded the best immune response.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China. wangshuilian1234@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Shui-Lian
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Shao-Xian
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Li-Qun
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Zhao-Fang
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Jian-Zhong
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Ai-Xin
authors.initials: AX
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Li-Guo
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007265:Inhibins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D008049:Lipase; D006080:Ovarian Follicle; D010957:Plasmids; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive / Q000276:immunology*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; C094377:inhibin-alpha subunit; D004958:Estradiol; D007265:Inhibins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D008049:Lipase; C043101:gastric triacylglycerol lipase