Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the Xinjiang fine wool sheep inhibin a subunit on the reproductive traits. Rats were immunized with the Xinjiang fine wool sheep inhibin a subunit recombinant protein, using Freund’s adjuvant as the adjuvant. Compared to the control group, the antibody titers increased steadily in the 1 mg inhibin-immunized group, and the antibody titers in 1 mg inhibin-immunized rats were highest among all groups on day 28 and day 38. Moreover, the level of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH) and progesterone in all groups showed an impulse pattern throughout estrous cycle, and peak values of FSH and progesterone secretion in 1 or 2 mg inhibin-immunized groups were significantly higher than that in the other groups, however, the level of LH in the all inhibin-immunized groups during the estrous cycle was similar to the control group. Besides, the number of ovarian follicles (≥ 0.8 mm) in 1.0 mg inhibin-immunized group was significantly higher than that in other groups. In addition, the correlation analysis showed that the level of antibody was the positive correlation with the number of ovarian follicles. Together, the data suggested that immunization with the Xinjiang fine wool sheep recombinant inhibin could facilitate the ovarian follicular development via an inhibin a-dose dependent way.

Key words: Inhibin a subunit, Sprague-Dawley rat, antibody, hormone, progesterone.