Stenhouse Claire, Cortes-Araya Yennifer, Donadeu F Xavier, Ashworth Cheryl J
Functional Genetics and Development Division, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK.
Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, 440 Kleberg Center, College Station, TX, 77843-2471, USA.
J Anim Sci Biotechnol. 2022 Mar 15;13(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s40104-022-00678-3.
Impaired reproductive performance is the largest contributing factor for the removal of boars from commercial systems. Intrauterine growth restricted piglets represent 25% of the total number of piglets born and have impaired reproductive performance. This study aimed to improve the understanding of temporal changes in testicular gene expression during testes development in fetuses of different size. The lightest and closest to mean litter weight (CTMLW) male Large White × Landrace littermates were collected at gestational days (GD) 45, 60 and 90 (n = 5-6 litters/GD).
Testes weight and testes weight as a percentage of fetal weight were not associated with fetal size at GD60 or 90. Fetal plasma testosterone was not associated with fetal size at GD90. There was no association between fetal size and seminiferous tubule area and number, number of germ or Sertoli cells per tubule. The lightest fetuses tended to have wider seminiferous tubules compared to the CTMLW fetuses at GD90 (P = 0.077). The testicular expression of KI67 (P ≤ 0.01) and BAX:BCL2 ratio (P = 0.058) mRNAs decreased as gestation progressed. Greater SPP1 mRNA expression was observed at GD60 when compared with GD45 and 90 (P ≤ 0.05). Lower expression of DMRT1 and SPP1 (P < 0.01) mRNAs was observed in testes associated with the lightest fetuses compared to the CTMLW fetuses at GD90.
These findings provide novel insights into the expression profiles of genes associated with testicular development and function. Further, these data suggest that programming of reproductive potential in IUGR boars occurs late in gestation, providing a platform for further mechanistic investigation.
繁殖性能受损是公猪被商业养殖系统淘汰的最大因素。子宫内生长受限仔猪占出生仔猪总数的25%，且繁殖性能受损。本研究旨在增进对不同大小胎儿睾丸发育过程中睾丸基因表达随时间变化的理解。在妊娠第45、60和90天收集体重最轻且最接近同窝平均体重（CTMLW）的大白猪×长白猪雄性同窝仔猪（每个妊娠日龄n = 5 - 6窝）。
在妊娠第60天或90天，睾丸重量及睾丸重量占胎儿体重的百分比与胎儿大小无关。在妊娠第90天，胎儿血浆睾酮与胎儿大小无关。胎儿大小与曲细精管面积和数量、每个曲细精管中的生殖细胞或支持细胞数量之间无关联。与妊娠第90天的CTMLW胎儿相比，最轻的胎儿曲细精管往往更宽（P = 0.077）。随着妊娠进展，KI67（P≤0.01）和BAX:BCL2比值（P = 0.058）mRNA的睾丸表达降低。与妊娠第45天和90天相比，在妊娠第60天观察到更高的SPP1 mRNA表达（P≤0.05）。与妊娠第90天的CTMLW胎儿相比，在与最轻胎儿相关的睾丸中观察到更低的DMRT1和SPP1（P < 0.01）mRNA表达。
这些发现为与睾丸发育和功能相关的基因表达谱提供了新的见解。此外，这些数据表明子宫内生长受限公猪的繁殖潜能编程发生在妊娠后期，为进一步的机制研究提供了一个平台。
