Differential expression of luteinizing hormone receptor, androgen receptor and heat-shock protein 70 in the testis of long-distance transported mice.
Spermatogenesis, is a complex process of precisely regulated intracellular events, where it is affected by many factors. Long-distance transport of animals is one of the stressors that may influence spermatogenesis and sperm quality. The present study chose luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR), androgen receptor (AR), and heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70) as our target genes to investigate their mRNA and protein expression in the testes of long-distance transported (about 1000 km) mice. Histological analysis showed that there was a reduction in the thickness of the seminiferous epithelium in the transported mice, and a significant decrease in body weight and sperm count in the epididymis was also observed. mRNA expression was determined by QPCR in the testis of transported and control mice. The levels for AR decreased significantly in transported mice. LHR and HSP70 expression in the testes of the transported mice was slightly higher than that of control mice but did not reach a significant level. A similar tendency of protein expression was also observed by Western blot analysis. The levels of LHR and HSP70 increased slightly after transportation. However, none of the changes were statistically significant compared with the control mice. In conclusion, long-distance transport has an adverse effect on reproductive organs and spermatozoa in adult mice.
China Education Ministry's Key Laboratory in Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Wuhan, China.
L P
LP
Sun
The State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
Y P
YP
Song
China Education Ministry's Key Laboratory in Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Wuhan, China.
J J
JJ
Liu
China Education Ministry's Key Laboratory in Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Wuhan, China.
X R
XR
Liu
The State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
A Z
AZ
Guo
China Education Ministry's Key Laboratory in Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Wuhan, China.
L G
LG
Yang
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009929:Organ Size; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics*; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000235:genetics*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*
D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011974:Receptors, LH