Animal (Jan 2013)
Erythropoietin non-viral gene therapy does not affect motility, viability, morphology or concentration of rabbit sperm
Abstract
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.