睾丸注射法制备携带猪PID1基因的转基因兔

目的研究磷酸酪氨酸互作结构域1(PID1)基因与肌内脂肪含量的关系,探究睾丸注射法在转基因动物制备中的可行性。方法将携带猪PID1基因的重组质粒pIRES2-acGFP-PID1与转染试剂共孵育后,对新西兰兔进行了睾丸打点注射试验。对繁殖的F1代个体进行了活体荧光检测、PCR和western blotting检测,以及抽样屠宰进行肌内脂肪含量等检测;将F1代阳性个体互交,繁殖了F2代兔,对其进行了阳性率检测以及肌内脂肪含量检测。结果外源PID1基因和荧光蛋白基因在后代中均成功表达,其中,F1代阳性率为35.88%,F2代阳性率为34.33%;转基因阳性兔与阴性和空白对照兔相比,PID1蛋白表达水平有所增加,肌内脂肪含量有显著提高(P0.05)。结论 PID1基因与肌内脂肪沉积密切相关,同时,进一步证明了睾丸注射法可以用于制备转基因动物,且外源基因可以稳定遗传。     

Local Effect of PACAP and VIP on Testicular Function in Immature and Adult Rats

Csaba, Zs., V. Csernus, and I. Gerendai. Local effect of PACAP and VIP on testicular function in immature and adult rats. Peptides 18(10) 1561–1567, 1997.—PACAP, VIP, anti-PACAP and anti-VIP antisera were injected intratesticularly. In 9-day-old hemicastrated rats PACAP or VIP decreased basal testosterone secretion. In 22-day-old hemicastrates VIP but not PACAP reduced compensatory testicular hypertrophy, however, neither PACAP nor VIP altered steroidogenesis. Anti-VIP antiserum to this age group increased testosterone production and enhanced compensatory testicular hypertrophy. In adult hemicastrates neither the peptides nor the antisera influenced steroidogenesis. Neither in immatures nor in adults treatment of both testes with PACAP or VIP had any effect. Data indicate that both PACAP and VIP might exert a local action on testicular steroidogenesis, on compensatory testicular hypertrophy, and these effects are age-dependent.     

Intratesticular hypertonic sodium chloride solution treatment as a method of chemical castration in cattle

Castration of male calves is necessary for trading to facilitate handling and prevent reproduction. However, some methods of castration are traumatic and lead to economic losses because of infection and myiasis. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficiency of intratesticular injection (ITI) of hypertonic sodium chloride (NaCl; 20%) solution in male calf castration during the first weeks of life. Forty male calves were allocated to one of the following experimental groups: negative control—surgically castrated immediately after birth; positive control —intact males; G1—ITI from 1- to 5-day old; G2—ITI from 15- to 20-day old; and G3—ITI from 25- to 30-day old. Intratesticular injection induced coagulative necrosis of Leydig cells and seminiferous tubules leading to extensive fibrosis. Testosterone secretion and testicular development were severely impaired in 12-month-old animals from G1 and G2 groups (P < 0.05), in which no testicular structure and sperm cells were observed during breeding soundness evaluation. Rectal and scrotal temperatures were not affected by different procedures. In conclusion, ITI of hypertonic NaCl solution induces sterility and completely suppresses testosterone secretion when performed during the first 20 days of life.     

Production of transgenic mice carrying the Thanatin gene by intratesticular injection

Transgenic animals have potential applications in medicine, life sciences, and biopharmacy. In this study, we developed a convenient, economic, and efficient method for gene transfer by transfection of male spermatogonial stem cells. Three fragments of the Thanatin gene, encoding an antibacterial peptide, were synthesized and amplified by overlap extension polymerase chain reaction (PCR). They were inserted into vector pIRES2-EGFP. The pIRES2-EGFP-Thanatin plasmid was mixed with liposomes and injected into the testes of male mice by a minimally invasive operation. Six weeks after injection, male mice were mated with normal female mice to produce an F1 generation. PCR and Southern blotting were performed to analyze F1 mice. Among those 52 F1 mice produced, 38.46% were found to be positive for the Thanatin gene by PCR and 30.77% by Southern blotting. Six positive mice were selected from the F1 generation and mated with normal females to an F2 generation, in which 36.36% were found to be positive for the Thanatin gene. Expression of the green fluorescence protein in the transgenic mice was confirmed by fluorescence imaging. These results showed that the Thanatin gene was integrated into the mouse genome. The study provides a useful method for the future development of disease-resistant animals and production of antibacterial peptides through transgenic animals.