title: Effects of administration of two growth hormone-releasing hormone plasmids to gilts on sow and litter performance for the subsequent three gestations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether a novel optimized plasmid carrying the porcine growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) wild-type cDNA administered at a lower dose was as effective at eliciting physiologic responses as a commercial GHRH plasmid approved for use in Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  134 gilts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Estrus was synchronized and gilts were bred. Pregnant gilts were assigned to 2 treatment groups (40 gilts/group) or 1 untreated control group (24 gilts). Gilts in one of the treatment groups received the commercial GHRH plasmid, whereas gilts in the other treatment group received a novel optimized GHRH plasmid; both plasmids were administered IM in the right hind limb, which was followed by electroporation. Sow and litter performance were monitored for the 3 gestations after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant increase in insulin-like growth factor-I concentrations, decrease in perinatal mortality rate, increase in the number of pigs born alive, and increase in the weight and number of pigs weaned were detected for both groups receiving the GHRH-expressing plasmids, compared with values for the control group. Additionally, there was a significant decrease in sow attrition in GHRH-treated females, compared with attrition in the control group, during the 3 gestations after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both of the GHRH plasmids provided significant benefits for sow performance and baby pig survivability for pregnant and lactating sows and their offspring during the 3 gestations after treatment, compared with results for untreated control gilts. Use of a novel optimized plasmid reduced the effective plasmid dose in these large mammals.
authors.affiliation: VGX Animal Health Inc., 2700 Research Forest Dr, The Woodlands, TX 77381, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Amir S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Ruxandra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Draghia-Akli
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pope
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bodles-Brakhop
authors.forename: Douglas R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Kern
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008098:Litter Size / Q000502:physiology; D010957:Plasmids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone