Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF) in testicular development of the prepubertal boar Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Intratesticular expression of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF) and its association with cellular and structural changes that occur within the testis during pubertal development in boars was investigated. Immunostaining and morphometric procedures were used to characterize age- related changes in cell distribution and density of TGF. Thirty-six boars were used in this study (comprised of 6 litter-mate boars from each of 6 separate farrowings). At birth, littermates were assigned to one of six age groups, which included Day 1, Day 14, Day 28, Day 56, Day 112 or Day 170. Boars less than Day 170 were prepubertal, while Day 170 boars were pubertal. The body, paired testis and paired epididymal weights each increased with increasing age. The greatest increase of all weights occurred between Day 112 and Day 170. The number of Leydig and Sertoli cells increased with age. Although Leydig cell number declined slightly between Day 14 to Day 28, the number of Leydig cells and diameter of the seminiferous tubules increased as the boars aged. In each age group, the testis was immunopositive for TGF. TGF was immunolocalized in greater than 90% of the Leydig cells; however, the intensity of TGF staining in these cells decreased with age. In contrast, the extent of TGF immunolocalization and intensity of staining increased in Sertoli cells as the animals progressed from Day 1 to Day 170. These temporal changes in appearance and distribution of testicular TGF may influence the development of the male reproductive system. Regulatory mechanisms controlling testicular synthesis of TGF and its receptor- signalling system warrant further investigation.

published proceedings

  • Molecular Andrology

author list (cited authors)

  • Gillespie, J. C., Jaeger, L. A., Johnson, L., & Welsh, J.

complete list of authors

  • Gillespie, JC||Jaeger, LA||Johnson, L||Welsh, J

publication date

  • January 1996