BAC mediated transgenic Large White boars with FSHα/β genes from Chinese Erhualian pigs.
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a critical hormone regulating reproduction in mammals. Transgenic mice show that overexpression of FSH can improve female fecundity. Using a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) system and somatic cell nuclear transfer, we herein generated 67 Large White transgenic (TG) boars harboring FSHα/β genes from Chinese Erhualian pigs, the most prolific breed in the world. We selected two F0 TG boars for further breeding and conducted molecular characterization and biosafety assessment for F1 boars. We showed that 8-9 copies of exogenous FSHα and 5-6 copies of exogenous FSHβ were integrated into the genome of transgenic pigs. The inheritance of exogenous genes conforms to the Mendel's law of segregation. TG boars had higher levels of serum FSH, FSHα mRNA in multiple tissues, FSHβ protein in pituitary and more germ cells per seminiferous tubule compared with their wild-type half sibs without any reproductive defects. Analysis of growth curve, hematological and biochemical parameters and histopathology illustrated that TG boars grew healthily and normally. By applying 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we demonstrated that exogenous genes had no impact on the bacterial community structures of pig guts. Moreover, foreign gene drift did not occur as verified by horizontal gene transfer. Our findings indicate that overexpression of FSH could improve spermatogenesis ability of boars. This work provides insight into the effect of FSHα/β genes on male reproductive performance on pigs by a BAC-mediated transgenic approach.
['Xu|Pan|P|', 'Li|Qiuyan|Q|', 'Jiang|Kai|K|', 'Yang|Qiang|Q|', 'Bi|Mingjun|M|', 'Jiang|Chao|C|', 'Wang|Xiaopeng|X|', 'Wang|Chengbin|C|', 'Li|Longyun|L|', 'Qiao|Chuanmin|C|', 'Gong|Huanfa|H|', 'Xing|Yuyun|Y|', 'Ren|Jun|J|']
D000818:Animals D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified D001947:Breeding D022202:Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial D005260:Female D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome D016678:Genome D008297:Male D053652:Nuclear Transfer Techniques D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S D012098:Reproduction D013091:Spermatogenesis D034421:Sus scrofa
BAC Pig Follicle-stimulating hormone Male reproductive traits Transgenic animals