Longitudinal Expression of Testicular TAS1R3 from Prepuberty to Sexual Maturity in Congjiang Xiang Pigs

Abstract

Testicular expression of taste receptor type 1 subunit 3 (T1R3), a sweet/umami taste receptor, has been implicated in spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis in mice. We explored the role of testicular T1R3 in porcine postnatal development using the Congjiang Xiang pig, a rare Chinese miniature pig breed. Based on testicular weights, morphology, and testosterone levels, four key developmental stages were identified in the pig at postnatal days 15–180 (prepuberty: 30 day; early puberty: 60 day; late puberty: 90 day; sexual maturity: 120 day). During development, testicular T1R3 exhibited stage-dependent and cell-specific expression patterns. In particular, T1R3 levels increased significantly from prepuberty to puberty (p < 0.05), and expression remained high until sexual maturity (p < 0.05), similar to results for phospholipase Cβ2 (PLCβ2). The strong expressions of T1R3/PLCβ2 were observed at the cytoplasm of elongating/elongated spermatids and Leydig cells. In the eight-stage cycle of the seminiferous epithelium in pigs, T1R3/PLCβ2 levels were higher in the spermatogenic epithelium at stages II–VI than at the other stages, and the strong expressions were detected in elongating/elongated spermatids and residual bodies. The message RNA (mRNA) levels of taste receptor type 1 subunit 1 (T1R1) in the testis showed a similar trend to levels of T1R3. These data indicate a possible role of T1R3 in the regulation of spermatid differentiation and Leydig cell function.

Taste receptors affect male reproduction by influencing steroid synthesis

“…It is well known that cAMP and protein kinase A (PKA) are crucial synthesizing testicular steroids. For example, in our previous experiments, mice after saccharin sodium injection caused an elevation in taste signaling factors (T1r3, Gα) and also detected an elevation in cAMP concentration, which in turn increased the expression of steroidogenic enzymes (StAR, CYP11A1, 3β-HSD and CYP17A1 ( Gong et al, 2021 ). In addition, the taste receptor T1r1 is linked to cAMP ( Meyer et al, 2012 ).…”

“…T1R3 and its downstream protein Gα in late spermatogenic cells and Leydig cells have been observed in mice and pigs ( Spinaci et al, 2014 ; Gong et al, 2016b ; Gong et al, 2021 ). Besides, T2Rs has ectopic expression during spermatogenesis in human ( Governini et al, 2020 ).…”

CYP19A1 May Influence Lambing Traits in Goats by Regulating the Biological Function of Granulosa Cells

“…The expression data were normalized using the expression of the β-actin we used as the internal reference. The relative changes in gene expression were then calculated using the relative quantification method 2 − ΔΔCT [ 26 ].…”

Sertoli cell survival and barrier function are regulated by miR-181c/d-Pafah1b1 axis during mammalian spermatogenesis

“…Our previous miRNA microarray data showed that miR-181c or miR-181d (miR-181c/d) is highly expressed in testes from sexually immature boars at 60 days old compared with sexually mature boars at 180 days old [10]. At sexually immature stage, Sertoli cells have proliferative capacity and the BTB is not yet fully formed; at the sexually mature stage, Sertoli cells no longer undergo cell proliferation and have formed a blood-testis barrier [11][12][13][14]. The miR-181c is found to disturb the blood-brain barrier and F-actin organization in brain blood vessel endothelial cells by downregulating its target gene 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 [15].…”