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

• Published in: Animals (Basel) Vol. 11; no. 2; p. 437
• Main Authors: Gong, Ting, Wang, Weiyong, Xu, Houqiang, Yang, Yi, Chen, Xiang, Meng, Lijie, Xu, Yongjian, Li, Ziqing, Wan, Sufang, Mu, Qi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 08.02.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Cell differentiation; Congjiang Xiang pig; Cytoplasm; developmental biology; Developmental stages; Differentiation; Elongation; Epithelium; Hogs; Leydig cells; Male sterility; Males; Maturity; mRNA; Phospholipase; Phospholipase C; Physiology; Proteins; Puberty; Sexual maturity; Sperm; Spermatids; Spermatogenesis; Steroidogenesis; Sweet taste; Swine; T1R3; Taste; Taste receptors; Testes; testis; Testosterone; Umami; United States > US; China; T1R3; testis; developmental biology; Congjiang Xiang pig
• ISSN: 2076-2615; 2076-2615
• DOI: 10.3390/ani11020437

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 ( < 0.05), and expression remained high until sexual maturity ( < 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.