Reproductive characteristics of transgenic rabbit males with human protein C gene

Abstract

Basic objective of this research was to compare sperm characteristics (ejaculate volume, motility and sperm concentration), libido and reproductive capabilities of transgenic and non-transgenic rabbit males of the same age. First generation of transgenic rabbits was created by microinjection of foreign gene construct, consisting of mouse whey acid protein regulation gene and human protein C structural gene (mWAP-hPC), into pronucleus of fertilized eggs. Next generations of transgenic rabbits were obtained after mating of transgenic females with non-transgenic males. Significant differences in ejaculate volumes and concentrations between transgenic rabbits with hPC positive and negative sperms were observed. No significant differences were found in ejaculate volume and sperm concentration between average values of non-transgenic and transgenic males. Our results show that the transgenesis with mWAP-hPC gene construct does not affect reproductive traits of rabbit males with positive sperm and therefore do not disturb transgene transmission to offspring.