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Volume 37, Issue 4, Pages 206-213 (November 2009)


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Effects of immunization against α-inhibin using two adjuvants on daily sperm production and hormone concentrations in ram lambs

J.L. Vogea, J.B. Parkerb, J.E. WheatonaCorresponding Author Informationemail address

Received 21 January 2009; received in revised form 27 May 2009; accepted 28 May 2009. published online 31 July 2009.

Abstract 

Twenty-five ram lambs were immunized against α-inhibin peptide emulsified in Freund's adjuvant (FRA), Emulsigen (EML) containing an oligodeoxynucleotide as an immunostimulant, or adjuvant without α-inhibin antigen (control). Four immunizations were administered during an 85-d period, after which testes were obtained for determination of daily sperm production (DSP) and histological evaluation. α-Inhibin antibody (Ab) titers were 70-fold greater in lambs treated with FRA than in EML-treated ram lambs. α-Inhibin immunization had no effect on testes weight or on plasma concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone. Mean DSP/g tended (P=0.1) to be greater in α-inhibin–immunized (EML=17.6×106; FRA=15.8×106) ram lambs than in control animals (14.4×106). One of the 8 control ram lambs had an elevated DSP/g, which was a statistical outlier. Without data from this lamb, DSP/g was increased (P<0.01) in α-inhibin–immunized ram lambs by 28% over controls. No association was found between the titer of α-inhibin Ab developed and DSP/g. Histologically, the percentage of testicular area occupied by seminiferous tubules differed (P=0.01) by treatment and was greatest (82%) in EML-treated ram α-inhibin–immunized lambs and lowest (74%) in control animals. Percentage tubular area and DSP/g were correlated (r=0.57, P=0.003). Findings show that (1) the extent of the increase in DSP/g is not dependent on the titer of α-inhibin Ab; (2) the increase in DSP/g is achieved through an increase in the mass of seminiferous tubules; and (3) FRA elicits a greater α-inhibin Ab titer than EML containing an oligodeoxynucleotide.

a Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, United States

b Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA

Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Department of Animal Science, 495 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine Building, 1988 Fitch Ave, University of Minnesota, St. Paul MN 55108, United States. Tel.: +1 612 624 1225; fax: +1 612 625 2743.

PII: S0739-7240(09)00070-8

doi:10.1016/j.domaniend.2009.05.005


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