Expression of Glial Cell Line-derived Neurotrophic Factor(GDNF)in Boar Testes during Different Stages

Using semi-quantity RT-PCR and immunhistochemistry to assay the expression of Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF)in piglet testes and to investigate the significance of GDNF in the regulation of testes development and spermatogenesis.In the immunostaining slides,GDNF was found positively expressed in the Leydig cell area from 2 to 4 weeks,and was found positive expressed in Leydig cells and in the seminiferous tubules after 2 months old.Results from RT-PCR indicated that in the testes of boar,GDNF mRNA was detected in the testes from 2rd week and its level increased as the development of the boar,the level reached the highest point at 6th month.The expression level of GDNF mRNA was significantly higher in 2rd month(P 0.05)and in 6th month and 18 month(P0.01)than that in 2rd week.These results showed that GDNF played a direct role in the regulation of testicular development and spermatogenesis.