Journal of Andrology Testis Workshop 2009
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
Published-Ahead-of-Print September 4, 2008, DOI:10.2164/jandrol.107.004796

This Article
Right arrow Author Manuscript (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
30/1/57    most recent
Author Manuscript (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Choi, I.
Right arrow Articles by Lee, K.-H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Choi, I.
Right arrow Articles by Lee, K.-H.

Ontogeny of Expression and Localization of Steroidogenic Enzymes In the Neonatal and Prepubertal Pig Testes

Inho Choi , Ji-Young Kim , Eun Ju Lee , Yoo Yong Kim , Chung Soo Chung , Jongsoo Chang , Nag-Jin Choi , Hak-Jae Chung , and Ki-Ho Lee *

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: kiholee{at}eulji.ac.kr.

The early neonatal development of boar is characterized with significant testicular production of androgens and estrogens, including an anabolic steroid hormone, 19-nortestosterone. The present study was conducted to determine the expression and presence of steroidogenic and steroid hormone metabolism-related enzymes in the testes of neonatal and 4 months-old prepubertal pigs. Quantitative analyses with real-time PCR and Western blotting were utilized to reveal mRNA and protein expression, respectively. The localization of the molecules in the testes was determined by immunohistochemistry. mRNA expressions of the molecules tested were mostly significantly increased between 1 and 3 weeks of age and decreased at 4 months of age, compared to those at 0 week of age. The protein levels of cytochrome P450aromatase and carbonyl reductase 1 were significantly increased between 1 and 3 weeks of age and decreased at 4 months of age. However, protein expression patterns of other molecules differed with those of mRNA expression, which implied the existence of posttranscriptional gene regulation. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that all of the molecules were present in Leydig cells of the pig testis, regardless of age, except cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage in germ cells and 17{alpha}-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 4 on the blood-testis barrier at 4 months of age. Aldose reductase and 3{beta}-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase were localized in both Leydig and Sertoli cells. We postulate that marked rises in the expression of steroidogenic enzymes in the pig testis during the early neonatal development could be associated with peak production of 19-nortestosterone, thus eventually leading to the early growth of male pigs.


Key words: Androgen • Hormone • Spermatogenesis • Steroidogenesis • Testis






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
Copyright © 2008 by The American Society of Andrology.