Expression and Tissue Distribution of STAR Gene in Ovine Testis and Epididymis of Sheep at Different Developmental Stages
To investigate the expression pattern and potential functions of the STAR gene in the developmental sheep testis and epididymis,the testicular and epididymal(caput,corpus and cauda)tissue samples were collected from Tibetan sheep at 3 months,1 year,and 3 years of age.Real-time quantitative PCR,Western blot,and immunofluorescence staining were employed to detect the expression of the STAR gene and cellular localization of its encoded protein.The results indicated that the expression of the STAR gene in testes and epididymis(except for caput)of Tibetan sheep exhibited an overall decrease trend at the transcriptional level,while the expression at the protein level showed an upregulated trend with increasing age.STAR protein was mainly existed in the Leydig cells from testes and the principal cells from epididymal pseudostratified ciliated epithelium.Given that the main biological functions of Leydig cells and principal cells are secretion of testosterone and secretion of proteins required to promote sperm maturation,respectively,it is thus speculated that the STAR gene may mainly play a role in the development and functional maintenance of Leydig cells and epididymal principal cells,thereby promoting androgen synthesis and sperm maturation.
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