Veterinary Sciences

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Dear Colleagues,

Animal reproduction and health are hot topics in animal research. Animal reproduction is not only the basis of biodiversity but also an important factor affecting breeding and the development of the agricultural industry. In addition, with the rapid development of modern animal husbandry, greater demands have arisen in terms of the quantity and quality of dairy animals and animals for meat. In this Special Issue, we intend to cover the latest findings regarding animal reproduction and to provide novel knowledge in this research area.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to

Reproductive hormones;
Spermatogenesis;
Oogenesis and follicular development;
Embryo development and implantation;
Reproductive immunology;
Obstetric diseases, such as mastitis and endometritis.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Junwei Li
Dr. Dong Zhou
Prof. Dr. Shiqiang Ju
Guest Editors

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14 pages, 15081 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Molecular Characteristics and Role of PDGFB in Testis and Epididymis Development of Tibetan Sheep

by Haolin Chen, Ling Pu, Chengcheng Tian, Xingcai Qi, Juanjuan Song, Yan Liao, Bentian Mo and Taotao Li

Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(6), 266; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11060266 (registering DOI) - 9 Jun 2024

Viewed by 101

Abstract

Platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGFB), as an important cellular growth factor, is widely involved in the regulation of cellular events such as cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. Although important, the expression characteristics and biological functions in the mammalian reproductive system remain poorly understood. In this study, the PDGFB gene of Tibetan sheep was cloned by RT-PCR, and its molecular characteristics were analyzed. Subsequently, the expression of the PDGFB gene in the testes and epididymides (caput, corpus, and cauda) of Tibetan sheep at different developmental stages (3 months, 1 year, and 3 years) was examined by qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining. A bioinformatic analysis of the cloned sequences revealed that the CDS region of the Tibetan sheep PDGFB gene is 726 bp in length and encodes 241 amino acids with high homology to other mammals, particularly goats and antelopes. With the increase in age, PDGFB expression showed an overall trend of first decreasing and then increasing in the testis and epididymis tissues of Tibetan sheep, and the PDGFB mRNA expression at 3 months of age was extremely significantly higher than that at 1 and 3 years of age (p < 0.05). The PDGFB protein is mainly distributed in testicular red blood cells and Leydig cells in Tibetan sheep at all stages of development, as well as red blood cells in the blood vessel, principal cells, and the pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelial cells of each epididymal duct epithelium. In addition, PDGFB protein expression was also detected in the spermatocytes of the 3-month-old group, spermatids of the 1-year-old group, spermatozoa and interstitial cells of the 3-year-old group, and loose connective tissue in the epididymal duct space in each developmental period. The above results suggest that the PDGFB gene, as an evolutionarily conserved gene, may play multiple roles in the development and functional maintenance of testicular cells (such as red blood cells, Leydig cells, and germ cells) and epididymal cells (such as red blood cells, principal cells, and ciliated epithelial cells) during testicular and epididymal development, which lays a foundation for the further exploration of the mechanisms by which the PDGFB gene influences spermatogenesis in Tibetan sheep. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Animal Reproductive Physiology, Reproductive Endocrine and Obstetric Diseases—Volume II)

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Advances in Animal Reproductive Physiology, Reproductive Endocrine and Obstetric Diseases—Volume II

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