title: Immunization against recombinant GnRH-I alters ultrastructure of gonadotropin cell in an experimental boar model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gonadotropin cell is the main responsible for the secretion of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), and immunocastration reduces the concentrations of serum FSH and LH. A few studies have reported the histological structure of gonadotropin cells obtained from immunocastration animals at the light microscopy level. However, the ultrastructure of gonadotropin cells remains largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to evaluate and to compare ultrastructure of gonadotropin cell in gonadally intact boars and immunologically castrated male animals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, serum and adenohypophysis tissue were collected from nine gonadally intact boars and nine male pigs treated with recombinant gonadotropin releasing hormone I (GnRH-I). Anti-GnRH-I antibodies in serum and the ultrastructure of gonadotropin cell in adenohypophysis were determined by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay and electron microscopy, respectively. The results demonstrated that active immunization against recombinant GnRH-I increased serum GnRH-I antibody levels (P<0.05). Ultramicroscopic analysis of gonadotropin cell revealed a decrease (P<0.05) in the number and size of the large granules and small granules in the recombinant GnRH-I immunized animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that immunization against recombinant GnRH-I induces severe atrophy of granules in gonadotropin cell of boars, possibly reflecting GnRH-I regulation of gonadotropin cell.
authors.affiliation: Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Animal Genetic Resources Protection and Breeding, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China.
authors.forename: Fugui
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Shiping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Ya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yunhai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.forename: Xijie
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yunsheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hongguo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Juhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xiaorong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D052681:Gonadotrophs / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D058619:Maltose-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D023421:Models, Animal; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D058619:Maltose-Binding Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone