Expression of orphan receptor TR2 mRNA in rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) testis

The cellular localization and expression of TR2 mRNA in rhesus monkey testis were investigated by the methods of in situ and Northern hybridization using the digoxigenin labeled in vitro transcripted cRNA probe from a TR2 cDNA fragment template and alpha-P-32-dCTP labeled cDNA probe from the same TR2 cDNA fragment. It is demonstrated that TR2 mRNA was localized specifically in the germ cells, and was predominantly expressed in the meiotic more advanced cells. The expression level was various in different seminiferous tubules, and there was stronger expression in the tubules where spermatogenesis was vigorously going on. The expression level of TR2 mRNA was low in the immature rhesus monkey testis and increased dramatically in the adult and varied with a seminiferous cycle. These data suggest for the first time that orphan receptor TR2 may have an important function in regulating spermatogenesis at later stages of germ cell development in rhesus monkey.