Intra-Testicular Injection of Foreign DNA as a Possible Method for the Production of Transgenic Chicken

Abstract

Arima, T., Ebara, F. and Fujihara, N. 2001. Intra-testicular injection of foreign DNA as a possible method for the production of transgenic chickens. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 20: 65–72.

An exogenous gene (green fluorescent protein: GFP), as a marker gene, was injected directly into the testis of matured male chicken without the laparotomy. After one day of fasting, a solution containing DNA was injected directly into the testis through abdominal skin between 6th and 7th ribs. After 3 days of injection, semen samples were collected by the method of lumbar massage and washed 5 times by repeated centrifugation with PBS. Introduced DNA was detected in ejaculated spermetazoa by PCR analysis and the DNA was also found in the embryo of next generation (Fo) when the treated spermatozoa was inseminated into laying hens. These results suggest that spermatozoa may act as a vector for transferring exogenous genes into the chicken.

Keywords:

• Transgenic chicken
• GFP
• testis
• spermatozoa