Modulation of embryonic development due to mating with immunised males

Reprod Fertil Dev. 2017 Mar;29(3):565-574. doi: 10.1071/RD15173.

Abstract

The modification of pre- and postnatal development conferred by immunogenic stimulation of mothers provides a population-level adaptation mechanism for non-genetic transfer of maternal experiences to progeny. However little is known about the transmission of paternal immune experiences to offspring. Here, we show that immune priming of males 3-9 days before mating affects the growth and humoral environment of developing embryos of outbred (ICR) and inbred (C57BL and BALB/c) mice. Antigenic stimulation of fathers caused a significant increase in embryonic bodyweight as measured on Day 16 of pregnancy and altered other gestation parameters, such as feto-placental ratio. Pregnant females mated with immunised males were also characterised by changes in humoral conditions as shown by measurements of blood and amniotic progesterone, testosterone and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) cytokine concentrations. These results emphasise the role of paternal effects of immune priming on the in utero environment and fetal growth.

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / administration & dosage*
  • Amniotic Fluid / drug effects
  • Amniotic Fluid / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Body Weight / immunology*
  • Embryonic Development / drug effects
  • Embryonic Development / immunology*
  • Female
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / metabolism
  • Hemocyanins / administration & dosage*
  • Immunization
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Pregnancy
  • Progesterone / metabolism
  • Reproduction / drug effects
  • Reproduction / immunology*
  • Testosterone / metabolism

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Testosterone
  • Progesterone
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
  • Hemocyanins
  • keyhole-limpet hemocyanin