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Active immunization against GnRH in pre-pubertal domestic mammals: testicular morphometry, histopathology and endocrine responses in rabbits, guinea pigs and ram lambs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2017

P. M. Aponte ,
M. A. Gutierrez-Reinoso ,
E. G. Sanchez-Cepeda  and
M. Garcia-Herreros
P. M. Aponte*
Affiliation:
Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), Campus Cumbayá, Diego de Robles y Vía Interoceánica, 170157 Quito, Ecuador Colegio de Ciencias de la Salud, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), Campus Cumbayá, Diego de Robles y Vía Interoceánica, 170157 Quito, Ecuador
M. A. Gutierrez-Reinoso
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Technical University of Cotopaxi (UTC), 0501491 Latacunga, Ecuador
E. G. Sanchez-Cepeda
Affiliation:
AGROCALIDAD, 180103, Ambato, Ecuador
M. Garcia-Herreros*
Affiliation:
National Secretariat of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (SENESCYT), 170516Quito, Ecuador Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, I. P. (INIAV, I.P.), Polo de Santarém, Quinta da Fonte Boa, 2005-048, Santarém, Portugal
*
†E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
†E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
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Abstract

Effective tools for male contraception are important in the control of reproduction in animal populations. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of active immunization against gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) on male reproductive function assessing testicular morphological changes and serum-gonadotropin levels in pre-pubertal rabbits, guinea pigs and ram lambs. An anti-GnRH vaccine was developed by linking a GnRH-homologous molecule to a tetanus clostridial toxoid (Al(OH)3 coadjuvant). After vaccination protocols testicular morphometry, histopathological alterations and endocrine responses (FSH, LH, testosterone and cortisol serum levels) were evaluated. Testicular volume was significantly reduced in vaccinated animals with respect to the control group in rabbits, guinea pigs and ram lambs (P<0.05 to P<0.001). The anti-GnRH vaccine generated a reduction in testicular volume of 15-, 27- and 11-fold, respectively. Tubule diameters decreased in the vaccinated group with respect to the control ~2.0-, 1.2- and 3.5-fold, respectively (P<0.001). Tubule, intertubular and lumen volumes significantly decreased in vaccinated rabbits (P<0.05), guinea pigs and ram lambs (P<0.01). Vaccinated animals of the three species showed significant reductions in spermatogonial numbers (10- to 40-fold; P<0.01). Sperm was absent in all seminiferous tubules of all rabbits, and most individuals of guinea pigs (80%) and ram lambs (60%). No significant differences were observed between vaccinated and control groups regarding FSH and LH during the experiments in the three experimental species/models used. Testosterone, however, was only significantly lower (~22-fold, P<0.01) in vaccinated rabbits. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that pre-pubertal active immunization against GnRH leads to endocrine disruption and marked differences on testicular morphometry, development and activity among lagomorphs, hystricomorphs and ovine species with species-specific sensitivity regarding the anti-GnRH immune response.

Keywords

GnRHvaccinesrabbitsguinea pigsram lambs
Type
Research Article
Information
animal , Volume 12 , Issue 4 , April 2018 , pp. 784 - 793
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2017 

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