College of Veterinary Science & Animal

Husbandry Mhow

DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY GYNAECOLOGY AND

OBSTETRICS

TOPIC: CHIMERA AND

IMMUNOMODULATION OF FERTILITY

SUBMITTED TO : SUBMITTED BY;

Dr Madhu Shivhare Akhand Pratap Singh
Assistant professor
CHIMERAS

DEFINITION-
• Chimeras are animals composed
of cells that originate from two
(or more) different species.
• The name chimera comes from
Greek mythology and describes
a creature with the head of a
lion, the body of a goat, and the
tail of a serpent.
 Chimeras are created by
introducing cells from one
species into the developing
embryo or fetus of another.

Widely used as an experimental

technique in analysis of embryo
development.
• A sheep-goat chimera, created in 1984, had
the head of a goat and the woolly coat of a
sheep.
Researchers are developing human-animal chimeras
to study disease processes, test new drugs and
develop organs for future transplant patients.

The chimeras are produced by introducing human

stem cells into developing animal embryos.
 Some of the major projects utilizing human-
animal chimeras underway are –
 Sheep-to-humans organ transplant project
 Pigs-to-humans organ transplant project
 Mice with human brain cells
 Rabbit-human hybrids for stem cell research
 Monkey-human chimeras for the study of
Parkinson’s disease
 APPLICATION

Organ or stem cell transplant.

Tolerance to grafts and graft vs host disease.

Can be useful for intrauterine diagnosis or prognosis.

Can induce immunologic tolerance and possibly promote autoimmunity.

Huge potential to be used in bio weapon development.

ETHICAL ISSUES REGARDING CHIMERAS

Because it involves
research on human
embryos.

Because it disregards the

welfare of animals and
animal species involved.

More specifically, because

it disregards the welfare of
higher primates involved.
Concerns About Chimera Research
Could chimeras
have human
brains?

How will What is the

human-primate potential for
chimeras be humanized
treated? chimeras?

Could chimeras
mate and produce
human offspring?
IMMUNOMODULATION OF FERTILITY
Immunomodulation is described as
the pharmacological manipulation of
the immune system through
application of various vaccines and
immunomodulatory substances.

They control reproduction by

immunization against key hormones
in animals.

Vaccines have also found applications

in animal reproduction processes.

they starts Immunization by raising

antibodies against reproductive
hormones.
Vaccination of ewes against androstenedione leads to a
reduction in estrogen levels.

Estrogen has a negative-feedback effect on the

production of follicle-stimulating hormone.

Immunoneu- tralization of androstenedione leads to the

increased production of FSH.

Which increases the frequency of multiple ovulations.

Thus, immunization against androstenedione increases

ovulation rate and fecundity in sheep and can be used as
'fecundity vaccine‘.
EXAMPLE- Androvax and Ovastim. The former
vaccine boosts lambing up to 20% and is an
increasingly valuable tool to manage fertility.
• Immunization against Inhibin-
 Inhibin, secreted by granulosa cells in the ovary
affect FSH release through negative feedback
mechanism and thus regulates onset of oestrus.
 Initially, immunization was done using crude or
partially purified fraction of follicular fluid.
 Later on with the establishment of its amino acid
sequence, recombinant vaccine has been
developed.
• Anti-fertility Vaccines –
 Two types of reproductive control vaccines that are
categorized as Immunocontraception and Immuno-
neutering.
 Immunocontraceptive vaccines aim to prevent either
fertilization of the oocyte by sperm or implantation of
the fertilized egg yet retain sexual behavior patterns.
 Immuno-neutering vaccines aim to prevent all sexual
behaviors in both male and female animals as well as
controlling fertility.
Vaccines against reproductive hormones
and immuno-neutering –

Immunological neutralization of GnRH blocks pituitary

secretion of gonadotropins resulting in gonadal
quiescence and thus prevents reproductive function,
provides contraception, controls estrus behavior in
females and sexual and aggressive behaviors in males.
• EX- VAXSTRATE , IMPROVAC , EQUITY ,
GONACON.
• Vaccines against Gamete Antigens:
ImmunoContraception –
 Sperm antigens
 Oocyte antigens - vaccine SpayVac which is
based on crude porcine ZP antigen
preparation has been developed.
• Modulation of uterine defense mechanism
(UDM) –
 For enhancing immune function in cows.
 Bacterial modulins like E.coli LPS and other
bacteria free filtrates
 Lysozymes and bacterial cell free filtrate as an
alternative therapy for endometritis.
• Immunomodulatory Role of Cytokines –
cytokines are the primary factors of communication
between the endometrium and developing embryo.
Trophoblast of sheep and cattle embryo secretes ovine
and bovine trophoblastic proteins or interferons (bTP-
1, IFN-ô).
 IFN-ô present immunomodulatory action towards
WBC .
These proteins may be used as potential fertility
promoters especially in sub-fertile or infertile animals.
They can also be used for early diagnosis of pregnancy
and fetal development in cattle and in buffaloes.
THANK YOU