Declined expressing mRNA of beta-defensin 108 from epididymis is associated with decreased sperm motility in blue fox (Vulpes lagopus)

Ping Wu,Zhi-Ping Liu,Ling-Ling Li,Zhi-Jun Hou,Li-Hong Tian,Tao-Lin Liu

doi:10.1186/s12917-020-02697-6

Abstract

BackgroundFecundity is important for farm blue fox (Vulpes lagopus), who with asthenospermia have be a problem in some of farms in China. A key symptom of asthenospermia is decreased sperm motility. The decreased secreting beta-defensin108 (vBD108) of blue fox is speculated be related to asthenospermia. To clarify this idea, the mRNA expression of vBD108 in testis and epididymis of blue foxes with asthenospermia were detected and compared to the healthy one. The antibody was prepared and analyzed by immunohistochemistry.ResultsThe vBD108 in testis and epididymis was found both in blue fox with asthenospermia and healthy group by the method of immunohistochemistry. The expression of vBD108 mRNA in testes (P < 0.05) and epididymal corpus (P < 0.0001) in asthenospermia group was lower than that in healthy group.ConclusionsThese results suggested that vBD108 deficiency may related to blue fox asthenospermia. Meanwhile, the study on the blue fox vBD108 provides a hopeful direction to explore the pathogenesis of blue fox asthenospermia in the future.

Highlights

Fecundity is important for farm blue fox (Vulpes lagopus), who with asthenospermia have be a problem in some of farms in China
Brown coloration indicative of positive staining was found both in the testis, caput epididymis, corpus epididymis as well as in the cauda epididymis of the asthenospermia blue fox and healthy one compare to the control group
We found that the relative expression of vBD108 both in testes (P < 0.05) and corpus epididymis (P < 0.0001) of healthy blue fox was significantly higher than that of blue fox with asthenospermia

Summary

Introduction

Fecundity is important for farm blue fox (Vulpes lagopus), who with asthenospermia have be a problem in some of farms in China. A key symptom of asthenospermia is decreased sperm motility. The decreased secreting beta-defensin108 (vBD108) of blue fox is speculated be related to asthenospermia. To clarify this idea, the mRNA expression of vBD108 in testis and epididymis of blue foxes with asthenospermia were detected and compared to the healthy one. The antibody was prepared and analyzed by immunohistochemistry

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion