Histological Differences in Reproductive Organs and Expression Level Differences of AR and INHA Genes in Male Tibetan Sheep at Different Altitudes

doi:10.15933/j.cnki.1004-3268.2025.05.015

Abstract

Abstract: To explore the adaptability of Tibetan sheep to high altitude and low oxygen environment，two groups of adult male Tibetan sheep at high altitude（3 500 m）and low altitude（2 200 m）were studied as research objects，paraffin sections，H.E.staining，RT‐qPCR，and Western blot were used to compare the histomorphological differences in testicle，epididymis（caput epididymis，corpus epididymis，cauda epididymis），deferens，and the tissue expression level of androgen receptors（AR）and inhibin α（INHA）genes in the reproductive organs of Tibetan sheep at different altitudes.The results showed that compared with low altitude，the seminiferous tubules diameter，seminiferous epithelium thickness，sperm cells diameter，the cross‐sectional area of seminiferous tubules and the number of sertoli cells in the testicle of Tibetan sheep at high altitude were significantly decreased，while the spermatogonia epithelium thickness and primary spermatocytes diameter were significantly increased.The internal and external diameters of the epididymal lumen were significantly decreased and the cilia were generally shorter，while the lumen diameter of the deferens increased significantly and the smooth muscle thickness was thinner.Tibetan sheep could promote spermatogenesis and maturation by enhancing the transcriptional regulation of AR gene in corpus epididymis and cauda epididymis and the expression of AR protein in testicle，corpus epididymis，cauda epididymis and deferens in high altitude environment.Compared with Tibetan sheep at low altitude，the expression of INHA gene in caput epididymis，cauda epididymis，and deferens of Tibetan sheep at high altitude was significantly decreased，and the expression of INHA protein in testicle tissue was significantly decreased，while that in epididymis tail was significantly increased.This difference might affect the development of spermatogenic epithelium and help to adapt to high cold and low oxygen environment by regulating the secretion of follicle‐stimulating hormone（FSH）and the process of spermatogenesis. In conclusion，in the high altitude low oxygen environment，the histomorphological changes of testicle，epididymal and deferens of Tibetan sheep may be the protective response to adapt toigh altitude low oxygen environment；at the same time，Tibetan sheep at high altitude directly or indirectly affect spermatogenesis and maturation by regulating the expression of AR and INHA genes and proteins in reproductive organs.

Key words: Tibetan sheep, Altitude, Reproductive organs, AR gene, INHA gene

摘要： 为了探讨藏绵羊对高海拔低氧环境的适应性，以分别取自高海拔（3 500 m）和低海拔（2 200 m）的2个成年雄性藏绵羊群体为研究对象，采用石蜡切片、H.E.染色、RT-qPCR以及Western blot等试验方法，比较不同海拔藏绵羊睾丸、附睾（附睾头、附睾体、附睾尾）、输精管的组织形态学差异以及雄激素受体（AR）和抑制素α亚基（INHA）基因在不同生殖器官中的组织表达差异。结果表明，与低海拔藏绵羊相比，高海拔藏绵羊睾丸的曲细精管直径、生精上皮厚度、精子细胞直径、曲细精管横截面面积、支持细胞数量均显著降低，精原细胞直径、初级精母细胞均显著增加；附睾管腔内、外径均显著降低且纤毛总体上变短；但输精管管腔直径显著增大，平滑肌厚度变薄。藏绵羊在高海拔环境中通过增强附睾体、附睾尾中AR基因的转录调控及睾丸、附睾体、附睾尾、输精管中的AR蛋白表达来促进精子发生及成熟；与低海拔藏绵羊相比，高海拔藏绵羊在附睾头、尾及输精管中INHA基因表达极显著下调，睾丸组织中INHA蛋白表达显著降低而附睾尾部极显著升高，这种差异可能通过调控促卵泡素（FSH）分泌和精子发生过程，影响生精上皮发育并帮助适应高寒低氧环境。综上，在高海拔低氧环境中，藏绵羊睾丸、附睾及输精管的组织形态学变化可能是其适应高原低氧的保护性反应；同时，高海拔藏绵羊通过调控生殖器官中AR和INHA基因及蛋白质的表达，直接或间接影响精子发生与成熟。

关键词: 藏绵羊, 海拔, 生殖器官, AR 基因, INHA 基因

CLC Number:

S826.8

ZHOU Na, GAO Rong, WANG Xinrong. Histological Differences in Reproductive Organs and Expression Level Differences of AR and INHA Genes in Male Tibetan Sheep at Different Altitudes[J]. Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences, 2025, 54(5): 130-141.

周娜, 高榕, 王欣荣. 不同海拔雄性藏绵羊生殖器官组织学差异及AR与INHA基因的表达差异[J]. 河南农业科学, 2025, 54(5): 130-141.

Figures/Tables 10

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