Expression analysis of porcine aromatase (CYP19) as a specific target gene in testis

Cytochrome P450 aromatase is the key enzyme in estrogen biosynthesis, encoded by the CYP19 gene. However, little is know about the CYP19 roles in boar spermatogenesis. Therefore, the aim of this work 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 I (G-I) and Group II (G-II), where G-I is characterized for a relatively better sperm quality. For the expression study between reproductive and non-reproductive tissues by semi-quantitative PCR study, mRNA from all six boars was pooled together according to the tissues. On the other hand, mRNA and protein expression study in different reproductive tissues from two divergent groups of animals were performed by semi-quantitative PCR, qRT-PCR and western blot, respectively. Due to the limitations of fresh samples from G-I and G-II boars, different fresh testis from a healthy breeding boar was collected after slaughtering for protein localization by immunofluorescence. The remarkable CYP19 mRNA expression was detected only in testis. The mRNA expression of CYP19 was not detectable in other reproductive tissue (epididymis and accessory glands) and non-reproductive tissue (brain, liver and muscle) by semi-quantitative PCR.