绵羊附睾褪黑素受体1的表达与定位

为研究褪黑素受体1(MT1)在不同年龄绵羊附睾中的表达模式,选用幼龄绵羊(2~3月龄)、青年绵羊(6~8月龄)和成年绵羊(2~3岁)的附睾,采用实时荧光定量PCR和免疫组化技术检测不同年龄绵羊附睾各部位MT1基因mRNA的表达量和MT1的分布情况。结果表明:幼龄绵羊附睾尾MT1基因的转录水平极显著高于附睾头和附睾体(P0.01);青年绵羊附睾体和附睾尾MT1基因的转录水平显著高于附睾头(P0.05);成年绵羊附睾尾MT1基因的转录水平显著高于附睾头和附睾体(P0.05),附睾各部位MT1基因的转录水平随年龄增长呈明显降低趋势;定位结果显示,MT1在各年龄组绵羊附睾的各个部位均有分布,且主要分布在附睾上皮细胞中。综合上述结果,不同年龄绵羊附睾的不同部位均有MT1表达和分布,并随年龄增长各部位的表达量降低,相同年龄绵羊附睾尾MT1的表达水平较高。     

幼龄和成年太行山羊附睾头差异竞争性内源RNAs机制分析

旨在筛选出幼龄和成年太行山羊附睾头中差异表达的长链非编码RNAs（lncRNAs）、微小RNAs（miRNAs）和mRNAs,构建太行山羊附睾头中免疫相关基因调控的竞争性内源RNAs（ceRNAs）网络。本研究选取健康状况良好、体重相近的幼龄（2月龄）和成年太行山羊（2周岁）公羊各3只,去势采集其附睾头组织进行全转录组测序,用DESeq2软件筛选出幼龄和成年太行山羊附睾头差异mRNAs、lncRNAs和miRNAs。利用miRanda软件和R-package（reshape2、dplyr、tidyr）,基于ceRNA-score原理分析得到差异ceRNAs表达谱,对预测所得具有ceRNAs关系的mRNAs进行GO和KEGG富集分析,并绘制得到太行山羊附睾头免疫相关ceRNAs网络。最后,各随机挑选8个mRNAs、miRNAs和lncRNAs,并通过qRT-PCR验证全转录组测序结果的准确性。根据分析结果,以幼龄太行山羊附睾头为对照,成年山羊附睾头差异表达mRNAs有6 461个,其中上调2 997个、下调3 464个;差异表达lncRNAs共有1 147个,其中703个上调、444个下调;差异表达miRNAs共有182个,其中81个上调、101个下调。共得到具有ceRNAs调控关系的lncRNAs 366个,其中上调213个,下调153个;mRNAs有3 131个,其中1 253个上调,1 878个下调;miRNAs有140个,其中48个上调,92个下调。分析具有ceRNAs机制的基因发现,表达量显著上调的与免疫相关的mRNAs：淋巴细胞抗原6复合位点蛋白G5B（LY6G5B）、脂质运载蛋白9（LCN9）、解整合素金属蛋白酶28（ADAM28）和粘蛋白15（MUC15）基因在成年太行山羊附睾头表达量高,且极显著高于幼龄太行山羊（P<0.01）。GO和KEGG富集分析表明,具有ceRNAs机制的差异表达基因富集在内质网蛋白加工通路、蛋白质输出通路、粘蛋白型O-聚糖生物合成通路、细胞外基质受体相互作用通路等。qRT-PCR验证结果表明,除chi-miR-320-3p外,其余差异表达的mRNAs、lncRNAs和miRNAs表达趋势与全转录组测序结果一致。附睾头免疫相关ceRNAs网络分析表明,lncRNA-MSTRG.22929.11、lncRNA-MSTRG.57822.5、lncRNA-MSTRG.26758.1、lncRNA-MSTRG.12113.3、lncRNA-MSTRG.59930.2等lncRNAs作为ceRNAs可以调控附睾头免疫相关基因表达。本研究筛选出了幼龄和成年太行山羊附睾头差异ceRNAs,挖掘并绘制了免疫相关的关键ceRNAs网络,这些lncRNAs作为ceRNAs可为太行山羊附睾头免疫调控机制研究提供参考依据。     

免疫细胞在牦牛附睾和输精管的分布规律

旨在研究免疫细胞在健康雄性牦牛附睾和输精管的分布。采用免疫组织化学和实时荧光定量(qRT-PCR)方法对幼龄(5~6月龄)及成年(3~4岁)牦牛附睾(头、体、尾)和输精管中CD68⁺巨噬细胞、CD3⁺ T淋巴细胞、CD79α⁺ B淋巴细胞、IgA⁺和IgG⁺浆细胞的分布特征及其表面标志分子的表达水平进行研究。结果显示：CD68⁺巨噬细胞、CD3⁺ T淋巴细胞、CD79α⁺ B淋巴细胞、IgA⁺和IgG⁺浆细胞主要分布在附睾管和输精管的上皮和间质;另外,CD68和CD3 mRNA和蛋白水平在各年龄组牦牛附睾头和附睾体显著高于附睾尾和输精管(P < 0.05),而CD79α、IgA和IgG mRNA和蛋白水平在附睾尾和输精管显著高于附睾头和附睾体(P < 0.05);此外,在成年牦牛附睾和输精管CD3、CD79α、IgA、IgG、CD68 mRNA和蛋白水平均显著高于幼龄牦牛(P < 0.05)。综上提示,牦牛附睾头可能主要是细胞免疫发生的位点,而附睾尾和输精管则主要进行体液免疫应答,此外,成年牦牛附睾和输精管的局部免疫可能更完善,以上数据为进一步研究高原牦牛局部生殖免疫和病理提供了形态学资料。     

高原地区成年藏绵羊和小尾寒羊附睾组织中eNOS差异表达研究

采用免疫组化SP法结合IPP统计分析法,比较高原地区成年藏绵羊和小尾寒羊附睾组织中eNOS的定位及分布特征。平均光密度数据统计表明,eNOS的平均光密度值在藏绵羊附睾尾部显著高于附睾头和附睾体(P0.05),藏绵羊附睾头和附睾体之间无显著差异(P0.05),但在小尾寒羊附睾体显著高于附睾头(P0.05)。小尾寒羊附睾体的平均光密度值显著高于藏绵羊(P0.05),附睾头和附睾尾之间无显著差异(P0.05)。结果表明,eNOS的活性在附睾尾部最高,提示NO与精子运输相关,对于高原地区不同品种绵羊附睾中eNOS分布较大差异的原因尚需深入研究。     

绵羊附睾液和附睾精子中抗氧化酶活性的研究

本实验旨在研究绵羊附睾不同部位附睾液和附睾精子的抗氧化酶活性变化模式,采集6只10～12月龄、健康小尾寒羊的睾丸,利用ABTS法、WST-8法、NADPH法和酶标仪检测附睾不同部位附睾腔液和附睾精子总抗氧化能力（T-AOC）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSHPx）以及过氧化物酶（POD）活性的变化。结果显示：从附睾头到附睾尾,附睾液中的T-AOC呈上升趋势,其中附睾尾液体中T-AOC显著高于附睾头和附睾体;附睾尾的液体中SOD、GSH-Px和POD活性显著高于附睾头和附睾体,但CAT活性变化不显著。对于附睾不同部位的精子,从附睾头到附睾尾,T-AOC呈上升趋势,其中附睾尾精子中T-AOC显著高于附睾头和附睾体;附睾尾精子中GSH-Px和POD活性显著高于附睾头,但附睾尾精子中SOD显著低于附睾头,在附睾精子中未检测到CAT活性。总之,绵羊附睾液和精子的抗氧化酶活性呈现区域特异性变化,不论附睾液还是附睾精子,在附睾尾部的总抗氧化力明显高于其他部位,说明随着精子不断成熟和附睾环境的变化,储存在附睾尾的精子需具备更高的抗氧化能力。     

公山羊β防御素124的表达谱分析及其在繁殖器官中的定位

旨在研究公山羊β防御素124(Goat beta-defensin 124,gDB 124)的表达谱及其蛋白在繁殖器官中的分布特点。采集1周龄、2~6月龄公羊各3只(体重相近)睾丸和附睾,以及18月龄公山羊睾丸、附睾头、附睾体、附睾尾、心、肝、脾、肺、肾和背最长肌组织。用qRT-PCR分析gDB124mRNA的表达情况;采用免疫荧光技术分析睾丸、附睾头、附睾体和附睾尾gDB 124分布特点。结果显示:除背最长肌中无表达外,gDB124mRNA在18月龄公山羊睾丸、附睾头、附睾体、附睾尾、心、肝、脾、肺和肾组织均有表达,且附睾头表达量极显著高于其他组织(P0.01);睾丸gDB124mRNA表达量6月龄时显著高于其他月龄;附睾头、附睾体和附睾尾gDB124mRNA表达量随月龄的增加呈上升趋势;1周龄公山羊睾丸和附睾gDB124mRNA表达量不存在显著差异,3、4、5、6、18月龄时附睾头gDB124mRNA表达量显著高于睾丸、附睾体和附睾尾(P0.05);免疫荧光定位技术分析显示:gDB 124在公山羊睾丸和附睾中均有分布,但主要是在附睾头上皮细胞中。根据荧光信号强度gDB 124的表达量顺序:附睾头附睾体附睾尾睾丸,该结果与qRT-PCR分析结果相一致。公山羊gDB124mRNA表达具有明显组织特异性和时间依赖性。     

高原型藏绵羊附睾细胞外基质的组织化学研究

旨在探索高原型藏绵羊附睾细胞外基质相关蛋白的分布特征。应用Masson’s、Gomori’s、PAS和ABPAS(pH 2.5)染色组织化学方法观察7只健康成年高原型藏绵羊附睾的组织结构特点,进而用免疫组织化学SP法观察层粘连蛋白(LN)、IV型胶原蛋白(Col IV)和硫酸乙酰肝素蛋白多糖(HSPG)的分布特征。高原型成年藏绵羊附睾各部分管腔为柱状纤毛上皮,附睾尾间质胶原纤维和网状纤维较附睾头及附睾体明显增多。PAS反应显示附睾尾阳性强于附睾头和附睾体,AB-PAS反应显示附睾头和附睾尾的阳性强于附睾体。免疫组织化学结果显示,LN在组织中表达最强,HSPG次之,Col IV表达较弱,HSPG和LN的阳性表达差异不显著(P0.05)。高原型成年藏绵羊附睾尾间质胶原纤维和网状纤维的分布较附睾头和附睾体多,附睾各部分中PAS的反应强弱与附睾上皮分泌功能的变化密切相关,附睾尾输精管的分泌功能增强;Col IV参与基膜的物质转运;HSPG与血-附睾屏障构成相关;LN与基膜的形成及其附睾中细胞外基质相关蛋白(ECM)的合成和分泌有关。     

TRPM1在不同毛色绵羊不同时期皮肤中的表达与定位

瞬时受体式基因1(Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 1,TRPM1)对正常黑素细胞中的色素沉积至关重要,是色素沉积障碍的潜在靶点。为确定TRPM1在不同发育阶段不同毛色绵羊皮肤中的表达与定位,并探讨其在调控绵羊毛色形成中的作用机制。运用实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)、Western Bloting、免疫组化技术分别检测不同发育阶段不同毛色绵羊皮肤中TRPM1的表达与定位。结果表明,不同月龄的杂交黑白公绵羊中TRPM1 mRNA均有不同程度的表达：在白色绵羊皮肤中,6月龄TRPM1 mRNA的表达高于其他月龄（P<0.05）;在黑色绵羊皮肤中,3、6、12月龄TRPM1 mRNA的表达均高于0月龄（P<0.05）;不同月龄黑绵羊皮肤中TRPM1 mRNA的表达量均高于白绵羊（P<0.05）。Western Bloting结果显示,0、3、6、12月龄黑白绵羊皮肤中TRPM1蛋白均有不同程度表达,且表达水平趋势与mRNA水平一致,进一步证实TRPM1参与绵羊毛色的调控。免疫组化检测结果显示,在白色和黑色绵羊皮肤毛囊毛干、...     

RBP4基因在绵羊性成熟前后附睾中表达的研究

试验旨在研究视黄醇结合蛋白4（retinol binding protein 4,RBP4）基因在绵羊性成熟前和性成熟后附睾中的表达水平,探讨其在绵羊生殖机能调控方面的作用。以绵羊性成熟前和性成熟后附睾为材料,采用实时荧光定量PCR方法检测RBP4基因mRNA在绵羊性成熟前、后附睾中表达量的差异,采用免疫组化技术检测RBP4基因在绵羊性成熟前、后附睾头和附睾尾中蛋白的表达水平。结果显示,RBP4基因在绵羊附睾中性成熟前的表达量为1.3368,性成熟后的表达量为0.6450,虽然二者间的表达量差异不显著（P>0.05）,但性成熟前的表达量高于性成熟后的表达量。RBP4蛋白在性成熟前、后附睾头上皮层、平滑肌层、组织间质中均有阳性表达,主要位于上皮细胞质、平滑肌细胞质;在附睾尾上皮层、组织间质中有阳性表达,主要位于上皮细胞质。推测RBP4基因可能与附睾主细胞分泌功能和附睾头处的收缩功能有关,预示RBP4可能参与附睾微环境的调控,有利于精子成熟、运动和储存。     

L—PGDS基因在大鼠睾丸与附睾中的表达

选用2月龄SD大鼠睾丸与附睾总RNA为模板，运用RT—PCR和蛋白质印迹技术探讨了Lipocalin型前列腺素D合成酶(L-PGDS)基因在大鼠睾丸与附睾头、附睾体和附睾尾中的表达及其差异。结果表明，L—PGDS基因在大鼠睾丸中没有表达，在附睾中有较强表达，附睾头表达量最高，附睾体次之，附睾尾最低，表达量存在差异。提示，L-PGDS在精子成熟过程中起着一定的作用。     

Morphological and acrosomal changes of canine spermatozoa during epididymal transit

Background

During epididymal transit, functional and structural modifications leading to full maturation enable male gametes to reach, recognize and fertilize the oocytes. In dogs, little is known on the modifications of spermatozoa during the passage in the epididymis. The aim of this study was to describe the motility, morphology and acrosomal patterns of canine spermatozoa retrieved from the epididymis caput, corpus and cauda.

Results

After the dilution required for the collection of epididymal content, sperm motility was significantly higher (P <0.0001) in the cauda compared to corpus and caput.Proportions of spermatozoa with normal morphology were significantly higher in corpus (P =0.02) and cauda (P <0.0001) compared to caput. Overall morphological abnormalities of the head and neck/midpiece were similar in the three different epididymal regions. A significantly increased prevalence of tail defects, mainly represented by single bent tails, was observed in the corpus compared to caput (P <0.0001) and cauda (P =0.006).Numbers of immature sperm with cytoplasmic droplets decreased from the proximal to the distal region of the epididymis. Particularly, proximal cytoplasmic droplets were more frequently found in spermatozoa collected from the caput epididymis than in the corpus (P <0.0001) and in the cauda (P <0.0001), whereas the occurrence of distal cytoplasmic droplets was higher in the corpus than in the caput (P =0.0003) and in the cauda (P <0.05).Significantly higher proportions of spermatozoa with intact acrosomes were retrieved from the cauda epididymis than from the caput (P =0.03) and the corpus (P =0.008). This difference was mainly due to a lower proportion of spermatozoa with abnormal acrosomes (mainly swollen acrosomes) rather than with absent acrosomes.

Conclusions

Canine spermatozoa undergo several modifications in the epididymis. The acquisition of progressive motility, migration of the cytoplasmic droplet and acrosomal reshaping lead to mature spermatozoa which are then stored in the cauda epididymis. From this site, spermatozoa can be retrieved and used in assisted reproductive techniques as a valuable tool for propagating genetic traits of high value individuals that dies accidentally or undergoes orchiectomy for medical purposes. Further investigations should be also focused on the potential use of spermatozoa recovered from other epididymal regions.     

Histology of lamb epididymal development

To describe the distribution of the histological regions and their morphometry during epididymal development, 10 Corriedale lambs were castrated monthly from 90 to 180 days of age (n = 24), and their testes and epididymides were weighed. All animals were weighed monthly. Epididymides were divided into caput, corpus and cauda, and cut sagitally so that sections included all the length of the organ. The diameter of the epididymal duct, the smooth muscle depth and the epididymal epithelium height were measured. The quantitative histology of the ovine epididymal development was described. Epididymal development advanced from caput to cauda. The distribution of the histological regions varied according to epididymal weight. Transient histological regions were found during epididymal development. The present results indicate a new way of epididymal development in sheep, which courses from caput to cauda with transient histological regions appearing, varying in location and disappearing during ovine epididymis development.     

Lectin-binding characteristics and capacitation of canine epididymal spermatozoa

Cross sections of the testes and the caput, corpus and cauda epididymides removed from 12 dogs were stamped on glass slides, and the sperm on the slides were stained with 6 different FITC-lectins (Con A, DBA, PNA, PSA, SBA, and WGA) to examine the characteristics of the surface glycoproteins (GPs) on canine epididymal sperm. The corpus epididymal sperm were washed three times by centrifugation, and their lectin-binding characteristics were investigated. The washed sperm from the corpus and cauda epididymides were incubated for 24 hr, and the fertilizing capacity of the sperm was evaluated by calculating the percentages of actively motile sperm (%MO), hyperactivated sperm (%HA), and acrosome-reacted sperm (%AR), and the number of canine zona-pellucida (ZP)-binding sperm. The testicular sperm did not stain with SBA lectin, but the SBA lectin fluorescence was observed on the surface of the entire heads of the caput epididymal sperm. Although all of the entire heads or acrosomal regions of the corpus epididymal sperm stained with all 6 FITC-lectins, the heads and acrosomal regions of the cauda epididymal sperm did not stain with DBA or SBA lectins. Washing the sperm from the corpus epididymis resulted in loss of the fluorescence of the FITC-DBA and -SBA lectins. The mean %MO, %HA, %AR, and ZP-binding number of the cauda epididymal sperm after 24 hr of incubation were higher than the values for the corpus epididymal sperm. All of the mean values for the washed sperm from the corpus and cauda epididymides were higher than the values for the unwashed sperm from the corpus and cauda, and with the exception of %AR, the values from the washed sperm from the corpus epididymis were significantly higher (P<0.05, 0.01). The results indicate that DBA- and SBA-lectin-binding GPs on the surface of canine epididymal sperm are associated with the fertilizing capacity and may be decapacitation factors.     

绵羊精子细胞核质转运蛋白KPNA4的研究

旨在对绵羊附睾头、体和尾部的精子进行蛋白质组学分析,获得差异表达蛋白,对数据进行功能富集分析,挖掘精子发生/成熟关键蛋白质。本研究选择12月龄左右健康的3只雄性湖羊为试验动物,分离附睾并按区域收集精子,3组样本(附睾头部组、附睾体部组和附睾尾部组),每组3个生物学重复,共计9例绵羊精子细胞样本。基于TMT标定定量蛋白质组学分析和R语言等工具,在获取的差异表达蛋白中进行GO和KEGG富集分析,并利用蛋白质免疫印迹(Western bolt)、免疫荧光(immunofluorescence)和流式细胞术(flow cytometry)试验验证结果的可靠性。从22 841个唯一性肽中鉴定到差异蛋白质616种,其中,尾vs头组鉴定出309个差异表达蛋白(上调213个,下调96个);尾vs.体组鉴定出167个差异表达蛋白(上调107个,下调60个);体vs头组鉴定出140个差异表达蛋白(上调88个,下调52个)。根据差异倍数与蛋白质功能,筛选出可能与精子成熟、核质物质转运相关的关键蛋白-KPNA4。本研究揭示了绵羊附睾不同部位精子的特点与差异,这些数据为研究雄性绵羊的生殖机制和精子成熟提供了丰富的资源。     

Histological Characteristics of Adult Yak Epididymis in Different Breeding Seasons

To compare the histological changes of the adult yak's epididymis in different breeding seasons,six adult yak testis in breeding season and nine adult yak testis in breeding interval were collected for structure investigation by HE staining,Masson's and Gomori's histochemistry methods,and IPP (Image-Pro Plus) statistics method was used to quantitative statistics.The results showed that comparing with the adult yak in the breeding interval,the epididymis ducts of adult yak in the breeding season were covered with the columnar ciliated epithelium.The collagen and reticular fiber in cauda epididymis were obviously more abundant than caput and corpus epididymitis.And the thickness of columnar epithelium cells in caput and corpus epididymitis,the length of the cilia in caput,and also the internal and external lumen diameter of caput and corpus epididymitis were all significantly increased in the breeding season (P<0.05),but the external lumen diameter of the cauda epididymis had no significant differences (P>0.05).In conclusion,the research showed that the distribution of collagen and reticular fiber in adult yak's epididymis interstitial were similar,and they were more rich in cauda epididymis,which might relate to the capacity and the sperm transport;The changes of the epithelial thickness,the length of cilia,the internal and external lumen diameter were close related to the different breeding seasons,and it might be a common phenomenon in plateau mammals that the enlargement and reduction of the epididymal duct in different breeding seasons.     

Estrogen and androgen receptor expression in relation to steroid concentrations in the adult boar epididymis

The steroid hormone regulation of the epididymis in a high estrogen producing animal like the boar is not currently understood. To test the hypothesis that the boar epididymis is an estrogen and androgen responsive tissue, the presence of estrogen and androgen receptors, in conjunction with steroid hormone concentrations were investigated in the boar epididymis. Epididymal (caput, corpus, cauda) and testicular samples of boars (1–2.5 years; n = 5) were collected for immunolocalization of estrogen receptor alpha (ER), estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) and androgen receptor (AR). Concentrations of testosterone, estradiol and estrogen conjugates (EC) in the tissue were also determined. AR and ERβ were localized in the principal and basal cells of all three epididymal regions. ER was localized in the principal cells of the caput, some cells of the corpus and was not present in the cauda. Testosterone (p < 0.0001), estradiol (p < 0.0001) and EC (p < 0.005) were significantly lower in the epididymis compared with the testis. The epididymal regions were not significantly different from each other for testosterone (p > 0.15) or estradiol (p > 0.09). EC were significantly higher in the corpus than either the caput (p = 0.003) or cauda (p = 0.002). These results suggest that the boar epididymis is responsive to both estrogens and androgens and that both steroid hormones are important for proper epididymal function. Since testosterone and estradiol concentrations are similar throughout the epididymis, regional differences in steroid hormone regulation are likely due to differences in receptor expression.     

精子受精抗原-1(FA-1) mRNA在绵羊睾丸和附睾中的表达

本研究通过RT-PCR检测了该基因在绵羊睾丸和附睾中的表达情况。首先,提取绵羊睾丸组织、附睾头、体、尾部组织总RNA,以此为模板,反转录合成cDNA,自行设计引物,PCR扩增出462 bp的目的DNA。然后,将目的片断克隆入T载体,通过菌液PCR和重组质粒酶切,鉴定重组质粒中的目的DNA。再经序列分析鉴定目的片断。同时,以β-actin为内参照物,进行RT-PCR半定量分析,比较精子受精抗原(FA-1)在睾丸、附睾头、体、尾组织中的表达量。结果表明,FA-1在绵羊睾丸和附睾中均表达。