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Pan F, Fu W, Zhang B, Han M, Xie H, Yi Q, Qian W, Cui J, Cao M, Li Y, Jia Y, Fang F, Ling Y, Li Y, Liu Y. Effects of Vaccination against Recombinant FSH or LH Receptor Subunits on Gonadal Development and Functioning Male Rats. Vet Sci 2024; 11:176. [PMID: 38668443 PMCID: PMC11054695 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11040176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) play key roles in regulating testosterone secretion and spermatogenesis in male mammals, respectively, and they maintain the fertility of male animals by binding to their corresponding receptors. We designed and prepared a recombinant LH receptor (LHR) subunit vaccine and a recombinant FSH receptor (FSHR) subunit vaccine and used male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats as a model to examine their effects on testicular development, spermatogenesis, and testosterone secretion in prepubertal and pubertal mammals. Both vaccines (LHR-DTT and FSHR-DTT) significantly decreased the serum testosterone level in prepubertal rats (p < 0.05) but had no effect on the testosterone secretion in pubertal rats; both vaccines decreased the number of cell layers in the seminiferous tubules and reduced spermatogenesis in prepubertal and pubertal rats. Subunit vaccine FSHR-DTT decreased the sperm density in the epididymis in both prepubertal and pubertal rats (p < 0.01) and lowered testicular index and sperm motility in pubertal rats (p < 0.05), whereas LHR-DTT only reduced the sperm density in the epididymis in pubertal rats (p < 0.05). These results indicate that the FSHR subunit vaccine may be a promising approach for immunocastration, but it still needs improvements in effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuqiang Pan
- Departmet of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei 230036, China; (F.P.); (W.F.); (B.Z.); (M.H.); (H.X.); (Q.Y.); (W.Q.); (J.C.); (M.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.J.); (F.F.); (Y.L.); (Y.L.)
| | - Wanzhen Fu
- Departmet of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei 230036, China; (F.P.); (W.F.); (B.Z.); (M.H.); (H.X.); (Q.Y.); (W.Q.); (J.C.); (M.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.J.); (F.F.); (Y.L.); (Y.L.)
| | - Bochao Zhang
- Departmet of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei 230036, China; (F.P.); (W.F.); (B.Z.); (M.H.); (H.X.); (Q.Y.); (W.Q.); (J.C.); (M.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.J.); (F.F.); (Y.L.); (Y.L.)
| | - Mengdi Han
- Departmet of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei 230036, China; (F.P.); (W.F.); (B.Z.); (M.H.); (H.X.); (Q.Y.); (W.Q.); (J.C.); (M.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.J.); (F.F.); (Y.L.); (Y.L.)
| | - Huihui Xie
- Departmet of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei 230036, China; (F.P.); (W.F.); (B.Z.); (M.H.); (H.X.); (Q.Y.); (W.Q.); (J.C.); (M.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.J.); (F.F.); (Y.L.); (Y.L.)
| | - Qing Yi
- Departmet of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei 230036, China; (F.P.); (W.F.); (B.Z.); (M.H.); (H.X.); (Q.Y.); (W.Q.); (J.C.); (M.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.J.); (F.F.); (Y.L.); (Y.L.)
| | - Wei Qian
- Departmet of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei 230036, China; (F.P.); (W.F.); (B.Z.); (M.H.); (H.X.); (Q.Y.); (W.Q.); (J.C.); (M.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.J.); (F.F.); (Y.L.); (Y.L.)
| | - Jiankun Cui
- Departmet of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei 230036, China; (F.P.); (W.F.); (B.Z.); (M.H.); (H.X.); (Q.Y.); (W.Q.); (J.C.); (M.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.J.); (F.F.); (Y.L.); (Y.L.)
| | - Meng Cao
- Departmet of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei 230036, China; (F.P.); (W.F.); (B.Z.); (M.H.); (H.X.); (Q.Y.); (W.Q.); (J.C.); (M.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.J.); (F.F.); (Y.L.); (Y.L.)
| | - Yanqiuhong Li
- Departmet of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei 230036, China; (F.P.); (W.F.); (B.Z.); (M.H.); (H.X.); (Q.Y.); (W.Q.); (J.C.); (M.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.J.); (F.F.); (Y.L.); (Y.L.)
| | - Yuke Jia
- Departmet of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei 230036, China; (F.P.); (W.F.); (B.Z.); (M.H.); (H.X.); (Q.Y.); (W.Q.); (J.C.); (M.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.J.); (F.F.); (Y.L.); (Y.L.)
| | - Fugui Fang
- Departmet of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei 230036, China; (F.P.); (W.F.); (B.Z.); (M.H.); (H.X.); (Q.Y.); (W.Q.); (J.C.); (M.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.J.); (F.F.); (Y.L.); (Y.L.)
- Anhui Provinciale Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
- Linquan County Modern Agriculture Technology Cooperation and Extension Service Center, Fuyang 236000, China
| | - Yinghui Ling
- Departmet of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei 230036, China; (F.P.); (W.F.); (B.Z.); (M.H.); (H.X.); (Q.Y.); (W.Q.); (J.C.); (M.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.J.); (F.F.); (Y.L.); (Y.L.)
- Anhui Provinciale Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
- Linquan County Modern Agriculture Technology Cooperation and Extension Service Center, Fuyang 236000, China
| | - Yunsheng Li
- Departmet of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei 230036, China; (F.P.); (W.F.); (B.Z.); (M.H.); (H.X.); (Q.Y.); (W.Q.); (J.C.); (M.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.J.); (F.F.); (Y.L.); (Y.L.)
- Anhui Provinciale Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
- Linquan County Modern Agriculture Technology Cooperation and Extension Service Center, Fuyang 236000, China
| | - Ya Liu
- Departmet of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei 230036, China; (F.P.); (W.F.); (B.Z.); (M.H.); (H.X.); (Q.Y.); (W.Q.); (J.C.); (M.C.); (Y.L.); (Y.J.); (F.F.); (Y.L.); (Y.L.)
- Anhui Provinciale Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
- Linquan County Modern Agriculture Technology Cooperation and Extension Service Center, Fuyang 236000, China
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Liu-Fu S, Pan JQ, Sun JF, Shen X, Jiang DL, Ouyang HJ, Xu DN, Tian YB, Huang YM. Effect of immunization against OPN5 on the reproductive performance in Shan Partridge ducks under different photoperiods. Poult Sci 2024; 103:103413. [PMID: 38442558 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Photoperiod is an important environmental factor that influences seasonal reproduction behavior in birds. Birds translate photoperiodic information into neuroendocrine signals through deep brain photoreceptors (DBPs). OPN5 has been considered candidate DBPs involved in regulating seasonal reproduction in birds. We found that OPN5 could mediate light to regulate the follicle development in ducks. In this study, we further verified the effect of OPN5 on follicular development in Shan Partridge ducks by immunizing against the extracellular domain (ECD) of OPN5. We investigated the specific regulatory mechanism of photoperiod mediated by OPN5 on the reproductive activity of ducks. The trial randomly divided 120 Shan Partridge ducks into 3 groups with different treatments: the immunization of OPN5 group was done at d0, d15, d30, and d40 with 1 mL of vaccine containing OPN5 protein (thus containing 1, 1, 0.5, and 0.5 mg of OPN5-KLH protein), and the control group (CS and CL groups) was injected at the same time with the same dose of OPN5-uncontained blank vaccine. The group of CS (900 lux), OPN5 (600 lux), and CL (600 lux) lasted for 40 d in 12 L:12 D photoperiods, respectively. Then, the groups of CS, OPN5, and CL subsequently received 12 L:12 D, 12 L:12 D, and 17 L:7 D light treatments for 33 d, respectively. The ducks were caged in 3 constant rooms with the same feeding conditions for each group, free water, and limited feeding (150 g per duck each day). Duck serum and tissue samples were collected at d 40, d 62, and d 73 (n = 12). It was found that before prolonged light, the group of immunization (group OPN5) and the group of strong light intensity (group CS) were higher than the group of CL in egg production. Subsequent to prolonged light, the group CL in egg production rose about the same as the group immunization, while the strong light group (group CS) was lower. Group OPN5 increased the ovarian index of ducks, and both the immunization of group OPN5 and group CL (extended light) increased the thickness of the granular layer and promoted the secretion of E2, P4, LH, and PRL hormones. Compared with group CS, group CL and OPN5 increased the mRNA level and protein expression of OPN5 in the hypothalamus on d 62 and d 73 (P < 0.05). The gene or protein expression patterns of GnRH, TRH, TSHβ, DIO2, THRβ, VIP, and PRL were positively correlated with OPN5, whereas the gene expression patterns of GnIH and DIO3 were negatively correlated with OPN5. The results showed that immunization against OPN5 could activate the corresponding transmembrane receptors to promote the expression of OPN5, up-regulate the expression of TSHβ and DIO2, and then regulate the HPG axis-related genes to facilitate the follicular development of Shan Partridge ducks. In addition, in this experiment, prolonging the photoperiod or enhancing the light intensity could also enhance follicle development, but the effect was not as significant as immunizing against OPN5. Our results will offer beneficial data and more supportive shreds of evidence in favor of elucidating the role of OPN5 in relation to photoperiods and reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sui Liu-Fu
- Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China
| | - Jian-Qiu Pan
- Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China
| | - Jun-Feng Sun
- Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China
| | - Xu Shen
- Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China
| | - Dan-Li Jiang
- Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China
| | - Hong-Jia Ouyang
- Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China
| | - Dan-Ning Xu
- Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China
| | - Yun-Bo Tian
- Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yun-Mao Huang
- Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China.
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Xu J, He M, Wang W, Hou J, Chen X, Ding X, Zhang J. siRNA-mediated Eppin testicular silencing causes changes in sperm motility and calcium currents in mice. Reprod Biol 2021; 21:100485. [PMID: 33607572 DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2021.100485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Epididymal protease inhibitor (EPPIN) is differentially expressed in the reproductive tissues (such as testicles, outlet tubes, epididymis, vas deferens, and seminal vesicles). Its critical role in sperm function and male reproduction has shed light on EPPIN as a candidate target for male contraceptive vaccines. In this study, we endeavored to further reveal the mechanism through which EPPIN exerts its function. We created a mouse model of reduced Eppin expression by microinjecting small interfering RNA targeting Eppin expression into seminiferous tubules of mice. This mouse model was then used to explore the effects of low Eppin expression on sperm function, which was assessed by Computer Assisted Semen Analysis and patch clamp recording of T-type Ca2+ current in spermatogenic cells. We found that the sperm motility significantly declined when Eppin was downregulated. Further investigation demonstrated that Eppin downregulation significantly affected T-type Ca2+ currents and messenger RNA expression of three subtypes of T-type Ca2+ channels in spermatogenic cells. These findings indicate that low Eppin gene expression induces decreased T-type Ca2+ currents and mRNA expression, which in turn results in the reduced sperm motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Xu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Mengting He
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jiaojiao Hou
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyi Chen
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xinliang Ding
- Department of Public Health, Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuxi, China.
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
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Fan S, Zhao Y, Pan Z, Gao Z, Liang Z, Pan Z, Feng W. ZNF185-derived peptide induces fertility suppression in mice. J Pept Sci 2018; 24:e3121. [PMID: 30270484 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Zinc finger protein 185 (ZNF185) belongs to the ZNF family and is involved in male reproduction. However, it is unclear whether ZNF185 may be a target candidate for contraceptive vaccines. In this study, antigenic peptides derived from ZNF185 were prepared, and their immune contraceptive effects were investigated using mice. Results from enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISAs) showed that peptide immunization induced an antibody titre increase that reached a peak in week 12. Peptide-3 and peptide-4 were then chosen for subsequent experiments. The results of the fertility assays showed that peptide immunization inhibited the mating and fertility rates of the mice, whereas there were no obvious changes in the number of pups per litter. Subsequently, epididymal sperm was analysed. The results demonstrated that the sperm count and sperm motility were significantly decreased in the peptide group, while the amount of abnormal sperm was significantly increased in the peptide-3 group. The male reproductive organs were also evaluated. There were no obvious differences in testis or epididymal weights, in the diameters of the seminiferous tubules, or in the thicknesses of the seminiferous epithelium between the peptide group and the phosphate buffer saline (PBS) group. In addition, histological analysis indicated that there were no obvious pathologic changes in testis and epididymal histology in the peptide group; however, the number of spermatozoa present in the epididymal lumen of the peptide group was significantly decreased when compared with the PBS group. Our study demonstrates for the first time that peptides derived from ZNF185 may induce fertility suppression in mice without damaging reproductive organs. These peptides have the potential to be used as a male contraceptive vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shutong Fan
- College of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Yuhan Zhao
- College of Public Health and Management, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Zhiwei Pan
- Laizhou Development Zone Hospital, Yantai, China
| | - Zhiqin Gao
- College of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Zumu Liang
- College of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Zhifang Pan
- College of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Weiguo Feng
- College of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
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