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                            Original Research
                            
                            
                            9. 
                            
                            Liposome-mediated uptake of exogenous DNA by Sahiwal 
                            cattle spermatozoa -
                            
                            
                            Thomas V. Babu, M. D. Pratheesh, N. Anandlaxmi , 
                            K. Amarnath
                            Vet World. 2012; 5(10): 621-627
              
               
              
              doi: 
              10.5455/vetworld.2012.
621-627
              
              
               
              
              
              
   
 
              
               
               
               
              
              
              Abstract
              
                            
                            Aim:
                            To investigate the influence of lipofection 
                            treatment and exogenous DNA uptake on the quality of 
                            sahiwal cattle spermatozoa. 
                            
                             Materials and 
                            Methods: Semen collected from sahiwal bulls 
                            (n=7) were evaluated separately for color, volume, 
                            mass activity, concentration, motility and viability 
                            using standard procedures. Pooled sperm samples from 
                            selected bulls (n=3) were transfected with a model 
                            gene construct enhanced green fluorescent protein 
                            (p-EGFP) via lipofection method and confirmed the 
                            genome integration by PCR technique. Furthermore the 
                            effect of transfection on spermatozoa was assessed 
                            based on apotosis, viability and motility. 
                            
                             
                            Results: In the current investigation sahiwal 
                            bulls were selected based on their breeding records 
                            and better semen characteristics. Although the 
                            transfected sperm samples failed to show florescence 
                            under fluorescence microscope, PCR studies confirmed 
                            the successful uptake of the p-EGFP gene in to the 
                            host sperm cell genome. Moreover transfected samples 
                            showed a significant reduction in the viability and 
                            motility without causing any DNA damage induced 
                            apoptosis as demonstrated by DNA Ladder assay. 
                            
                             
                            Keywords: EGFP, lipofection, Sahiwal cattle, 
                            spermatozoa, transfection