Affiliation:
1. Key Laboratory of Pig Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan China
2. The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production Wuhan China
Abstract
AbstractSperm associated antigen 6 (SPAG6) acts as a scaffolding protein in the center of the flagellar axoneme and has an impact on the maturation of the motility of mammalian sperm flagella and the maintenance of sperm structure. In our previous research, SPAG6 c.900 T>C in exon 7 and exon 7 skipped transcript was identified by analyzing RNA‐seq data of testicular tissues from 60 day (sexually immature) and 180 day (sexually mature) Large White boars. Herein, we found porcine SPAG6 c.900 T>C to be associated with semen quality traits in Duroc, Large White and Landrace pigs. SPAG6 c.900 C can generate a new splice acceptor site, inhibit the occurrence of SPAG6 exon 7 skipping to a certain extent, thereby promote the growth of Sertoli cells and maintain the normal blood–testis barrier function. This study provides new insights into the molecular regulation of spermatogenesis and a new genetic marker for the improvement of semen quality in pigs.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Subject
Genetics,Animal Science and Zoology,General Medicine