Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2020, Vol. 51 ›› Issue (11): 2720-2730.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2020.11.011

• ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGY AND REPRODUCTION • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Expression Patterns of T1R1 and T1R3 in the Congjiang Xiang Pig during Epididymal Development

MENG Lijie1,2, WANG Weiyong1,2, YANG Yi1,2, XU Yongjian1,2, FENG Xianzhou1,2, HUANG Yong1,2, GAO Yi1,2, GONG Ting1,2*   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Plateau Mountain Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Guizhou Province, Guiyang 550025, China;
    2. College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
  • Received:2020-07-16 Online:2020-11-25 Published:2020-11-20

Abstract: The aim of this experiment was to study the expression pattern of taste receptor family 1 subtypes 1 (T1R1) and 3 (T1R3) during epididymal development of Congjiang Xiang pig, and to explore the possible role of these taste receptors in mammalian male reproductive function and its potential medical value. In this study, the differential expressions of T1R1 and T1R3 in epididymis at 4 key developmental periods (neonatal (15 d), peri-puberty (30 d), puberty (60 d) and sexual maturity (180 d)) of Congjiang Xiang pigs were analyzed. RT-qPCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot were used to detect the changes and distribution of the two taste receptors in epididymis of Congjiang Xiang pigs at different ages. The results of RT-qPCR showed that the expression of TAS1R1 and TAS1R3 mRNA increased gradually from neonatal (15 d) to sexual maturity (180 d), and there was a significant difference between each period (P<0.01). The results of Western blot showed that the expression of T1R1/T1R3 protein was the highest on the 180 d and the lowest on the 15 d. The average protein abundance of T1R1/T1R3 was as follows: 180 d > 30 d > 60 d > 15 d. The results of IHC showed that T1R1 and T1R3 proteins were distributed in the epididymis of Congjiang Xiang pigs at 4 periods, in which T1R1 protein was mainly concentrated in epithelial cell membrane, especially in basal and narrow cells, while T1R3 protein was strongly positive in stereocilia, annular vacuoles and spermatozoa. In summary, the expression of T1R1/T1R3 in the epididymis of Congjiang Xiang pigs increased gradually from 15 d to the peak of sexual maturation, which was related to the differential expression of T1R1/T1R3 in epithelial basal cells, narrow cells and stereocilia of epididymis. These special expression patterns were time related to the physiological function of epididymis, so it is speculated that T1R1/T1R3 are involved in the regulation of sperm maturation and storage in epididymis.

Key words: Congjiang Xiang pig, epididymis, T1R1/T1R3, gene expression, protein localization

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