Effects of active immunization with inhibin α subunit on reproductive characteristics of Turkey hens

The hypothesis for the present study is that the active immunization of female turkeys with inhibin (INH) would neutralize endogenous INH, and increase levels of circulating follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and the number of preovulatory follicles, and subsequently enhance egg production. Two experiments were conducted with female turkeys in their first (30 wk of age) and second (62 wk of age) laying cycles. Treatment groups included control turkeys immunized with keyhole limpet hemocyanine (KLH) and experimental turkeys immunized with recombinant turkey inhibinα conjugated to KLH (rtlNH), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) conjugated to KLH or rtlNH+VIP. Egg production increased (P < 0.05) in VIP and rtlNH+VIP immunized birds, but not in rtlNH immunized hens in comparison with a control group. A similar number of ovarian follicles, arranged in the follicular hierarchy of laying hens, was observed in all experimental groups. However, there was a larger number of nongraded yellow follicles in rtlNH-immunized (62.5%) and rtlNH+VIP-immunized (73.5%) groups compared with that of controls, suggesting overstimulation by FSH. Anterior pituitary FSHβ subunit, LHβ subunit, and prolactin (PRL) mRNA contents were determined by Northern blot analysis and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in laying hens at the end of the experimental period. Hens immunized with rtlNH showed increased FSHβ subunit mRNA content, but no change in the content of LHβ subunit or PRL mRNA. Hens immunized with VIP or rtlNH+VIP had significant increases in both pituitary LHβ subunit and FSHβ subunit mRNA contents, accompanied by a decline in PRL mRNA abundance. The magnitude of the increase in FSHβ subunit to INH immunoneutralization was greater in first-cycle hens than in second-cycle hens. These data suggest that active immunization of female turkeys with INH neutralizes endogenous INH and increases both circulating FSH and the number of preovulatory follicles. However, no significant increase in egg production was observed in INH-immunized hens. The data confirm previous reports that VIP immunoneutralization increases egg production in turkey hens and shows for the first time that it also increases FSHβ subunit and LHβ subunit gene expression.