17 Bakhet B. S. Lina T. Kanat K. Rizabek Y. Gulmira S. Bibigul H.Yang Q. Jiang J. Xie H. Oralhazi Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences JAPS 20222022/10/05 32 5 1239-1247 1018-7081 https://doi.org/10.36899/JAPS.2022.5.0530 <p>The Kazakh sheep is native to China. The breed has many advantages, including its size, hardiness, and good meat production, it has the economic disadvantage of having a low reproductive rate. Inhibin-&alpha; (INH&alpha;) regulates the synthesis and secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and could feasibly be used to boost reproduction in the Kazakh sheep. However, the current methods of INH&alpha; preparation are both costly and time-consuming. Here, we investigated the effects of INH&alpha; on Kazakh sheep reproductive performance by immunization with INH&alpha; and analyzing the subsequent changes in reproductive hormone levels and blood biochemical indices. An anti-INH&alpha; polyclonal antibody was raised in camel. It and a recombinant INH&alpha; protein were used to immunize groups of adult Kazakh sheep in anestrus. Reproductive hormones (FSH, luteinizing hormone [LH], progesterone [P₄], and estradiol [E₂]) were measured by ELISA, together with the measurement of changes in INH levels and blood physiological and biochemical indicators. The blood levels of LH and P_4&nbsp;in the sheep immunized with the camel anti-INH&alpha; polyclonal antibody (group A) did not differ significantly from those in the recombinant INH&alpha; protein (group B) and the control group (group C) (<em>P&nbsp;</em>＞0.05). FSH and E₂&nbsp;levels in group A were significantly higher than the controls (<em>P</em> &lt;0.05) and the INH concentrations were significantly lower than those in group C (P &lt;0.05). There were no abnormalities in the blood biochemical indices in groups A, B, and C.In conclusion, immune INH&alpha; preparations significantly affected the blood reproductive hormone levels of Kazakh sheep. This technique has potential application for improving the reproductive performance in these sheep and is also relevant for future research into the development of an INH&alpha; vaccine.</p> Inhibinα, Immune, Kazakh sheep, Polyclonal antibody, Reproductive hormones Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum https://thejaps.org.pk/AbstractView.aspx?mid=VS-21-0039