Relative abundance of G protein-coupled receptor 30 and localization in testis and epididymis of sheep at different developmental stages.

The G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) is a transmembrane estrogen receptor that binds to estrogen, and has been confirmed to have an important role in testicular cell proliferation and development. The main objective of this study was to examine GPR30 gene expression and localization in the testis and epididymis of sheep at different developmental stages. Testes, including the epididymis, were collected from Polled Dorset x Mongolian cross rams at one (n=4; wt), three (n=4; wt), six (n=4; wt), nine (n=4; wt) and 12 (n=4; wt) months of age. The 12-month-old hybrid crossbred sheep were exsanguinated via puncture of the jugular vein. Relative abundance of GPR30 mRNA was detected by quantitative PCR, and localization of the protein was examined by immunohistochemistry. Semi-quantitative analysis of GPR30 protein was performed by western blotting. The relative abundance of GPR30 mRNA was similar in the epididymis tail for rams at 6, 9, and 12mo of age. Further, relative abundance of GPR30 mRNA in the testes and caput epididymis of 1-, 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month-old crossbred rams did not increase with age. The GPR30 mRNA was detected in epididymal interstitial and principal cells, and in the epididymal cavity, spermatocytes, spermatogonial stem cells, Sertoli and Leydig cells, and spermatozoon of ram testes. Western blotting indicated the GPR30 protein was present in 9- and 12-month-old crossbred sheep corpus, cauda epididymis (P<0.05). The results suggest that relative abundance of GPR30 mRNA is time-dependent and localization-specific.