Animal (Jan 2013)

Erythropoietin non-viral gene therapy does not affect motility, viability, morphology or concentration of rabbit sperm

  • T.F. Collares,
  • V.F. Campos,
  • G. Urtiaga,
  • P.M.M. Leon,
  • M.G. Amaral,
  • C.P. Hartleben,
  • A.J. McBride,
  • O.A. Dellagostin,
  • J.C. Deschamps,
  • F.K. Seixas,
  • T. Collares

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 5
pp. 778 – 783

Abstract

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Erythropoietin (EPO) gene therapy can be used for several purposes; however, its effects on reproductive performance are unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicological effects of non-viral (EPO) gene transfer on sperm motility, viability, morphology and concentration. Rabbit EPO cDNA was cloned into a pTarget mammalian expression vector. Rabbits were administered with: (1) pTarget/EPO vector, (2) recombinant human EPO (rHuEpo) and (3) saline (control). Both pTarget/EPO and rHuEpo significantly increased (P 0.05) on sperm motility, vigor, viability, concentration or morphology in the testis.

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