title: Effect of the novel DNA vaccine fusing inhibin α (1-32) and the RF-amide related peptide-3 genes on immune response, hormone levels and fertility in Tan sheep.
abstract: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of novel DNA vaccines fusing inhibin (INH) α (1-32) and RFamide-related peptide-3 (RFRP-3) genes on the immune response, reproductive hormone levels, and fertility of Tan sheep. Thirty-two female Tan sheep were divided into four groups (groups A, B, C, and D with 8 sheep per group) and respectively immunized (thrice, 20 d apart) with 0.6mg of p-TPA-SINH/TPA-SRFRP (group A), p-SINH/SRFRP (group B), p-SINH (group C) or 0.4ml saline (group D). Twenty days after primary immunization, all vaccines elicited significant immune responses, and the antibody levels of anti-INH and anti-RFRP-3 in the vaccinated groups were significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of the control group. Immunization with p-TPA-SINH/TPA-SRFRP induced higher antibodies against INH and RFRP-3. Hormone levels of FSH and LH in group A immunized with p-TPA-SINH/TPA-SRFRP were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those in group C, which are immunized with p-SINH and the control group 20 d after the third immunization. Additionally, the p-TPA-SINH/TPA-SRFRP, p-SINH/SRFRP, p-SINH and saline vaccine induced different twinning rate of ewes (37.5%, 37.5%, 12.5%, and 0, respectively), but no significant differences were found in improving twinning rate of ewes among four groups. These results suggested that neutralization of endogenous INH and RFRP-3 with novel DNA vaccine fusing INH α (1-32) and RFRP-3 genes successfully elicited a humoral immune response, increased reproductive hormone levels, but it did not significantly improve litter sizes and twinning rate of ewes in the present study.
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Education Ministry of China in Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China; The Agricultural College of NingXia University, Yinchuan 750021, PR China.
authors.forename: Xingang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Dan
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Education Ministry of China in Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaoran
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Education Ministry of China in Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
authors.forename: Yanguo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Education Ministry of China in Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Education Ministry of China in Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China. Electronic address: yangliguo2006@qq.com.
authors.forename: Liguo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000276:immunology*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007265:Inhibins / Q000276:immunology*; D008098:Litter Size; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012756:Sheep; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D009479:Neuropeptides; C416987:RFamide peptide; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; C094377:inhibin-alpha subunit; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone
keywords: DNA vaccine; Fertility; Hormone; Inhibin; RFRP-3; Tan sheep