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Home / Equine Research Bank / Reprod Fertil Dev / Effect of stallion age on the expression of LH and FSH recep...
Reproduction, fertility, and development2015; 28(12); 2016-2026; doi: 10.1071/RD15027

Effect of stallion age on the expression of LH and FSH receptors and aromatase P450 in equine male reproductive tissues.

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to characterise receptors for LH and FSH (LHR and FSHR, respectively) and aromatase in epididymal and testicular tissue from stallions of different ages (prepubertal, young, mature and old). Gene and protein expression were assessed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time qPCR), immunohistochemistry and multiple immunofluorescence labelling. There were no differences in LHR mRNA expression in epididymal and testicular parenchyma in stallions of different age. In contrast, expression of FSHR and CYP19A1 in caput, corpus and cauda epididymis and in testicular parenchyma increased with age (P<0.001). Immunolabelling for LHR, FSHR and aromatase was influenced by puberty. In postpubertal stallions, positive staining for LHR and aromatase was detected in Leydig cells, whereas protein expression of FSHR was present in Sertoli cells and primary spermatocytes. In prepubertal colts, staining for LHR, FSHR and aromatase was detected in seminiferous tubules. In epididymal tissue, aromatase was present in the cauda epididymis only, regardless of age. In conclusion, the results highlight the significance of gonadotropin action and oestrogen production for the maturation of male reproductive tissue in the horse. The presence of FSHR in the seminiferous tubules suggests effects of FSH on spermatogenesis in this species. The importance of oestrogen production for maintenance of testicular function in stallions was confirmed.
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Publication Date: 2015-07-07 PubMed ID: 26143654DOI: 10.1071/RD15027Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research study investigates how a stallion’s age impacts the expression of LH and FSH receptors and aromatase in the male horse’s reproductive tissues. The study discovered that, as horses get older, FSHR and CYP19A1 expression in epididymis and testicular tissue increases, pointing to the important role of these two hormones in the maturation of male horses’ reproductive systems.

Objective and Methodology of the Research

  • The main aim of this study was to investigate how the receptors for Luteinizing hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating hormone (FSH), referred to as LHR and FSHR respectively, and aromatase behave in the testicular and epididymal tissues of stallions of various ages, from prepuberty to old age.
  • The research used real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time qPCR), immunohistochemistry, and multiple immunofluorescence labelling to assess gene and protein expression.

Findings of the Study

  • No difference was identified in LHR mRNA expression in the epididymal and testicular tissues across different ages of stallions.
  • In contrast, the expression of FSHR and CYP19A1 (the gene for aromatase) in the epididymis and testicular tissues was found to increase with age, with a significant difference noted (P<0.001).
  • The cortisol binding protein, Aromatase, was only found in the cauda epididymis regardless of the age of the stallion.
  • Protein expression for LHR and aromatase was detected in the Leydig cells in postpubertal stallions, whereas protein expression of FSHR was found in Sertoli cells and primary spermatocytes.

Conclusion of the Study

  • The findings underscore the critical role of gonadotropin action and estrogen production in the maturation of male reproductive tissue in horses.
  • The presence of FSHR in the seminiferous tubules suggests the role of FSH in spermatogenesis in horses.
  • The study also reaffirms the importance of estrogen production in maintaining the functionality of testicular tissue in stallions.

Cite This Article

APA
Herrera-Luna CV, Scarlet D, Walter I, Aurich C. (2015). Effect of stallion age on the expression of LH and FSH receptors and aromatase P450 in equine male reproductive tissues. Reprod Fertil Dev, 28(12), 2016-2026. https://doi.org/10.1071/RD15027

Publication

Reproduction, fertility, and development
ISSN: 1031-3613
NlmUniqueID: 8907465
Country: Australia
Language: English
Volume: 28
Issue: 12
Pages: 2016-2026

Researcher Affiliations

Herrera-Luna, Carlos Vladimir
  • Centre for Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, University for Veterinary Sciences Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Scarlet, Dragos
  • Centre for Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, University for Veterinary Sciences Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Walter, Ingrid
  • Institute of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University for Veterinary Sciences Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Aurich, Christine
  • Centre for Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, University for Veterinary Sciences Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.

MeSH Terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Aromatase / metabolism
  • Epididymis / metabolism
  • Horses
  • Leydig Cells / metabolism
  • Male
  • Receptors, FSH / metabolism
  • Receptors, LH / metabolism
  • Reproduction
  • Testis / metabolism

Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
  1. Lee KE, Kim JG, Lee H, Kim BS. Behavioral and cardiac responses in mature horses exposed to a novel object. J Anim Sci Technol 2021 May;63(3):651-661.
    doi: 10.5187/jast.2021.e51pubmed: 34189512google scholar: lookup
  2. Budik S, Walter I, Leitner MC, Ertl R, Aurich C. Expression of Enzymes Associated with Prostaglandin Synthesis in Equine Conceptuses. Animals (Basel) 2021 Apr 20;11(4).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11041180pubmed: 33924239google scholar: lookup
  3. Zhou R, Wu J, Liu B, Jiang Y, Chen W, Li J, He Q, He Z. The roles and mechanisms of Leydig cells and myoid cells in regulating spermatogenesis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2019 Jul;76(14):2681-2695.
    doi: 10.1007/s00018-019-03101-9pubmed: 30980107google scholar: lookup
  4. Ishak GM, Bashir ST, Dutra GA, Gastal GDA, Gastal MO, Cavinder CA, Feugang JM, Gastal EL. In vivo antral follicle wall biopsy: a new research technique to study ovarian function at the cellular and molecular levels. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2018 Jul 28;16(1):71.
    doi: 10.1186/s12958-018-0380-8pubmed: 30055625google scholar: lookup
  5. Cooke PS, Nanjappa MK, Ko C, Prins GS, Hess RA. Estrogens in Male Physiology. Physiol Rev 2017 Jul 1;97(3):995-1043.
    doi: 10.1152/physrev.00018.2016pubmed: 28539434google scholar: lookup
  6. Qian H, Guan X, Bian Z. FSH aggravates bone loss in ovariectomised rats with experimental periapical periodontitis. Mol Med Rep 2016 Oct;14(4):2997-3006.
    doi: 10.3892/mmr.2016.5613pubmed: 27510616google scholar: lookup
  7. Liu X, Duan C, Yin X, Zhang L, Chen M, Zhao W, Li X, Liu Y, Zhang Y. Inhibition of Prolactin Affects Epididymal Morphology by Decreasing the Secretion of Estradiol in Cashmere Bucks. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jun 13;14(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14121778pubmed: 38929397google scholar: lookup
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