Seasonal changes in the expression of molecular markers of stallion germ cells.
Abstract: The economic impacts of infertility and subfertility of stallions greatly influence the horse breeding industry. Self-renewal and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells are the initial processes to maintain an adequate sperm population. Thus, understanding these processes may provide useful information to reveal the causes and remedies of subfertile and infertile stallions. Stallions are seasonal breeders. About 50% of the sperm population is reduced during the non-breeding season (NBS) in stallions. The seasonal regulation of spermatogenesis renders stallions as ideal models to understand the process of sperm production. Furthermore, comparing internal and external factors related to spermatogenesis during the breeding season (BS) and NBS may provide a solution for subfertile/infertile stallions. It is especially pertinent to study the expression pattern of different protein markers during undifferentiated, differentiating, and differentiated spermatogonia. Deleted in azoospermia-like (DAZL), undifferentiated cell transcription factor 1 (UTF-1), and protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5) are the molecular markers expressed at different stages of spermatogenesis. However, whether the expression pattern of these molecular markers is similar throughout the year in stallion remains undetermined. The objectives of this study were to (1) investigate the expression pattern and localization of DAZL, UTF-1, and PGP9.5 within seminiferous tubules and (2) evaluate the relative mRNA levels of these three germ cell markers in stallion testes during BS and NBS. Immunohistochemistry was performed to check and compare the expression pattern and localization of DAZL, UTF-1, and PGP9.5 antibodies. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis was performed to calculate the relative mRNA expression levels in the testes. Testicular tissues from thoroughbred stallions were collected during routine castration that was carried out in field conditions. Immunostaining of germ cells with DAZL and UTF-1 in BS and NBS were not significantly different. However, the relative mRNA expression levels of DAZL and UTF-1 were significantly different in both groups. Interestingly, the immunolabeling and the relative mRNA expression of PGP9.5 were significantly different between BS and NBS. From these results, it is hypothesized that the expression level of these putative molecular markers might be gonadotropin-dependent in stallion testes.
Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2022-08-24 PubMed ID: 36029943DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104109Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research investigates the impact of breeding and non-breeding seasons on the expression of molecular markers in stallion germ cells with an aim to better understand the causes of subfertility in stallions.
Background
- The significance of the study is underscored by the economic impacts of infertility and subfertility in stallions which have a big influence on the horse breeding industry.
- Stallions are seasonal breeders and about 50% of the sperm population is reduced during the non-breeding season.
- Sperm production is initiated by the self-renewal and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells. Understanding these processes can be crucial in devising strategies for the treatment of subfertile and infertile stallions.
- Comparing factors related to spermatogenesis during the breeding season and the non-breeding season can help identify potential solutions for subfertile and infertile stallions.
Molecular Markers and Objectives
- The research focused on the expression pattern of molecular markers like Deleted in azoospermia-like (DAZL), undifferentiated cell transcription factor 1 (UTF-1), and protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5) since they are expressed at different stages of spermatogenesis.
- The researchers aimed (1) to investigate the expression pattern and localization of DAZL, UTF-1, and PGP9.5 within seminiferous tubules and (2) to assess the relative mRNA levels of these three germ cell markers in stallion testes during breeding and non-breeding seasons.
Methods
- The researchers performed Immunohistochemistry to check and compare the expression pattern and localization of DAZL, UTF-1, and PGP9.5 antibodies.
- They also carried out Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis to calculate the relative mRNA expression levels in the testes.
- Testicular tissues from thoroughbred stallions, collected during routine castration done in field conditions, were used for the study.
Findings
- The study found that immunostaining of germ cells with DAZL and UTF-1 in breeding and non-breeding seasons were not significantly different. However, the relative mRNA expression levels of DAZL and UTF-1 were significantly different in both groups.
- The immunolabeling and the relative mRNA expression of PGP9.5 differed significantly between the breeding and non-breeding seasons.
- From these findings, it is hypothesized that the expression level of these putative molecular markers might be gonadotropin-dependent in stallion testes.
Cite This Article
APA
Shakeel M, Jung H, Yoon D, Yoon M.
(2022).
Seasonal changes in the expression of molecular markers of stallion germ cells.
J Equine Vet Sci, 118, 104109.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104109 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Republic of Korea; Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pir Mehr Ali Shah, Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi 44000, Pakistan.
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Republic of Korea; Research Centre for Horse Industry, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Republic of Korea; Department of Horse, Companion and Wild Animal Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Republic of Korea; Research Centre for Horse Industry, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: mjyoonemail@gmail.com.
MeSH Terms
- Horses
- Male
- Animals
- Seasons
- Semen / metabolism
- Spermatogonia
- Testis / metabolism
- Biomarkers / metabolism
- RNA, Messenger / genetics
- Proteins / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Harris IT, Maddock C, Farnworth M, Nankervis K, Perrett J, Pyatt AZ, Blanchard RN. Temporal trends in equine sperm progressive motility: a systematic review and meta-regression. Reproduction 2023 Jun 1;165(6):M1-M10.
- Shakeel M, Yoon M. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase-2 in stallion testes: insights into seasonal changes and potential roles in spermatogenesis. J Anim Sci Technol 2025 Jul;67(4):909-921.
- Shakeel M, Yoon M. Heat stress and stallion fertility. J Anim Sci Technol 2023 Jul;65(4):683-697.
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