Investigation on Porcine Aromatase (CYP19) as a Specific Target Gene for Boar Testis

Cytochrome P450 aromatase is the key enzyme in estrogen biosynthesis, encoded by CYP19 gene. Impairment of spermatogenesis associated with a decrease in sperm motility and inability to fertilize oocytes in mice due to the lacking of CYP19 was observed. However, it is little known about the CYP19 roles in boar spermatogenesis and fertility. Therefore, the aim of this research was to investigate the mRNA and protein expression of CYP19 in boar reproductive tissues from boars with different sperm quality. For mRNA and protein expression study, a total of six boars were divided into two groups with Group 1 (G-I) and Group 2 (G-II) where G-I was characterized for relatively a better sperm quality. The result showed that the CYP19 transcript was not expressed throughout the male reproductive system. mRNA expression of CYP19 was higher only in testis. CYP19 expression was similar in testis collected from G-I and G-II boars. The CYP19 protein expression results from western blot were different with the results of qRT-PCR. The CYP19 protein was higher in testis collected from G-II than G-I boars. The CYP19 protein localization in testis showed a strong staining only in the cytoplasm Leydig cell. These results shed new light on the roles of porcine CYP19 in spermatogenesis as a specific target gene for testis.