Journal of Animal Science and Technology
Korean Society of Animal Science and Technology
Article

Association of the ubiquitin specific peptidase 9X-linked and Afadin-6 Expression Patterns with Sexual Maturation in Boar Testis

Sun-Young Baek1, Seung-Hoon Lee3, Soojin Sa1, Youngshin Kim1, Joon-Ki Hong1, Eunseok Cho1, Seungmin Ha2, Kyungwoon Kim4, Hakjae Chung1,*
1Swine Science Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Cheonan 31000, Korea, Democratic People's Republic of.
22Dairy Science Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Cheonan 31000, Korea.
3Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Jeollabukdo 55365, Korea.
4Planning and Coordination Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Jeollabukdo 55365, Korea.
*Corresponding Author: Hakjae Chung, Swine Science Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Cheonan 31000, Korea, Democratic People's Republic of. E-mail: hakjaena@korea.kr.

© Copyright 2021 Korean Society of Animal Science and Technology. This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Received: May 15, 2021; Revised: Jun 18, 2021; Accepted: Jun 30, 2021

Published Online: Jul 26, 2021

Abstract

Closely correlated expression patterns between ubiquitin specific peptidase 9X -linked (Usp9x) and adherens junction formation factor (Afadn) in mouse testis development suggests that Usp9x regulates the deubiquitination of Afadn-6, and subsequently, the cell adhesion dynamics during gametogenesis. However, this relationship has not yet been tested in other domestic animals. In this study, we examined the temporal and spatial expression patterns of porcine USP9X and AFDN from the pre-pubertal to adult stages using real time-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, we detected the transcripts of USP9X and AFDN in the testis of 1-, 12- and 24-months old boar, respectively. USP9X and AFDN were found to have similar expressions patterns, with basal expression after 1 month followed by a significant up-regulation from 6 months (puberty) onwards. In addition, neither the AFDN or USP9X proteins were detected in spermatogenic cells but they were expressed in the Sertoli cells and Leydig cells. Usp9x was detected around the basal lamina during pre-puberty, and predominantly expressed in the Leydig cells at puberty. Finally, in adult testis, Usp9x was increased at the Sertoli cell-cell interface and the Sertoli cell-spermatid interface. In summary, closely correlated expression patterns between USP9X and AFDN in boar testis supports the previous findings in mice. Furthermore, the junction connections between the Sertoli cells may be regulated by the ubiquitination process mediated via USP9X.

Keywords: USP9X; AFDN; Spermatogenesis; Spermiogenesis; Spermiogenesis