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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Animal Biosciences & Biotechnology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #353336
Title: Immune changes during reproduction in sperm storage tubules of the domestic turkey Meleagris gallopavo

Author
item KRASNEC, KATINA - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item Long, Julie

Submitted to: Congress International Society Develop Comparative Immunology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/19/2018
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The storage of sperm in the female reproductive tract is a biological feature of numerous species including birds. The domestic turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, is unique among avian species in that sperm residing in the hen's sperm storage tubules (SST) retain fertilizing ability for up to 10 weeks after a single insemination. Despite this, it is unclear how the female can store sperm for extended periods of time without reducing fertility of sperm from inflammation or cell destruction. RNASeq analysis was done to identify and characterize immune genes from SSTs over the course of reproduction from onset, peak, and end of fertility after a single insemination. Overall, hens downregulate genes associated with the innate and adaptive immune components, including complement system genes (C1S, C1QTNF6), pro-inflammatory cytokine pathways (EIF2AK2), and interferon regulators (IRF1, IRF7) after initial exposure/ storage of sperm at onset of reproduction. At the end of storage and fertility, genes like FAS, PTPRC, and PTX3 are upregulated and indicate returning to typical B and T cell activation, apoptosis, and inflammatory pathways. Additionally, immune genes such as LGALS3 are upregulated in inseminated hens compared to uninseminated at same time, signaling that the immune system does recognize sperm as non-self; however, activation against sperm has declined, thus helping to prolong fertility. These patterns signify that the hen up or down-regulates immune genes in the SSTs during the onset and peak of reproduction in order to reduce inflammatory pathways and cell death that would result in sperm destruction and loss of fertility.