title: KISS1 can be used as a novel target for developing a DNA immunocastration vaccine in ram lambs.
abstract: KISS1 gene-encoding kisspeptins are critical for the onset of puberty and control of adult fertility. This study investigated whether KISS1 can be used as a novel target for immunocastration. Human KISS1 was fused with the HBsAg-S gene for constructing an antibiotic-free recombinant plasmid pKS-asd that coded for 31.168 kDa target fusion protein. Six male Hu sheep lambs were divided into two equal groups, treatment and control. The vaccine (1mg/ram lamb) prepared in saline solution was injected into lambs at weeks 0, 3 and 6 of the experiment, respectively. Vaccine efficacy was evaluated in terms of KISS1-specific IgG antibody response, serum testosterone levels, scrotal circumference, testicular weight, length and breadth, extent of testicular tissue damage, and sexual behaviour changes. The specific anti-KISS1 antibody titre in vaccinated animals was significantly higher than that in controls (p<0.05). In addition, vaccinated animals showed lower serum testosterone level, testicular weight and length and smaller scrotal circumference than those in controls (p<0.05). Spermatogenesis of seminiferous tubules in vaccinated animals was suppressed; sexual behaviours in vaccinated animals were significantly lower (p<0.05) than those in controls. In conclusion, the immunization against KISS1 in this DNA vaccine induced a strong antibody response and resulted in the suppression of gonadal function and sexual behaviour in animals, demonstrating that KISS1 can be used as a novel target for developing a DNA immunocastration vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yanguo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: liuguiqiong@mail.hzau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Guiqiong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: xpjiang@mail.hzau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xunping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Nabeel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ijaz
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Birhanu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tesema
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guangyue
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003269:Contraception, Immunologic / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D059648:Kisspeptins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010957:Plasmids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D034561:Sheep, Domestic; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C106628:KISS1 protein, human; D059648:Kisspeptins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D013739:Testosterone
keywords: DNA vaccine; Immunocastration; KISS1; Ram lamb