title: Effect of inhibin gene immunization on antibody production and reproductive performance in Partridge Shank hens.
abstract: To investigate the effect of inhibin gene immunization on antibody production and reproductive performance in broiler breeder females, Partridge Shank hens aged 380 days were immunized with inhibin recombinant plasmid pcISI. One hundred and twenty hens were randomly assigned to four groups and treated intramuscularly with 25, 75, or 125 μg/300-μL inhibin recombinant plasmid pcISI (T1∼T3) or 300-μL saline as control (C), respectively. Booster immunization was given with the same dosage 20 days later. Blood and egg samples were collected to detect the antibody against inhibin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and to evaluate egg performance. The ovaries were collected to classify the follicles and detect the FSH receptor (FSHR) messenger RNA (mRNA) expression by reverse transcription-PCR. The results showed that immunization against pcISI could elicit antibody against inhibin in both plasma and egg yolk compared with the control (P < 0.05), whereas booster immunization did not increase the antibody level in plasma. Vaccination promoted egg lay during the first 30 days after primary vaccination (P < 0.05) with no effect on egg quality and hatching rate. Immunization increased the amounts of dominant, small yellow and large white follicles in the ovary (P < 0.05). Reverse transcription-PCR results showed that immunization increased the FSHR mRNA in the large white follicles, whereas decreased the FSHR mRNA in the small yellow follicles (P < 0.05). In conclusion, inhibin vaccine pcISI can stimulate the production of antibody against inhibin as well as the follicle development and egg laying performance in Partridge Shank hens, which provides a good foundation for the application of inhibin DNA vaccine in avian production.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. Electronic address: maodagan@njau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Dagan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Wujiao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Fengming
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Liguo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Science, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Shaoxian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Yinxue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D007114:Immunization / Q000662:veterinary; D007265:Inhibins / Q000276:immunology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000254:growth & development; D010063:Ovum / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C422362:inhibin A; D007265:Inhibins
keywords: Egg lay; Follicle development; Gene immunization; Hen; Inhibin