Expression of Avian ?-Defensins in the chicken (Gallus domesticus) reproductive tract

摘要

-GHIHQVLQV$Y D) are antimicrobial peptides that play significant roles in the innate immune system in chickens. These genes clustered on chromosome 3 of the chicken genome encode a group of cationic antimicrobial -defensins. Although many studies have reported the interactions between Salmonella and cells of the chicken gastrointestinal tract little is known about the function of these genes in the chicken reproductive tract. Therefore the aim of this study was to identify the types of DYLDQ -defensins genes expressed in the reproductive organs of male and female chicken. Total RNA was extracted from ovaries, oviduct, testis and epididymis from one year old male and female chickens. The expression of $Y' in these reproductive organs was examined by reverse transcription PCR analysis