Toll like receptor mRNA expression in the ejaculated spermatozoa of chicken

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a broad family of innate immune receptors that play an essential role in detecting and responding to invading pathogens. In the present study TLR mRNA expression was analysed in the semen samples of Aseel and Kadaknath chicken by Reverse Transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). Spermatozoa of both the breeds expressed TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5 and TLR15. Expression of these TLRs in chicken spermatozoa provides evidence that they may play important role in innate immunity and fertilization process.