Abstract :
Adiponectin is a 30 kDa adipocytokine secreted primarily from adipose tissue in several
mammalian species. Recent evidence has shown that adiponectin and its receptors are
expressed in different reproductive tissues such as ovary, endometrium and this novel
endocrine system has important roles in regulation of male and female fertility. To date,
there are no reports about the expression of adiponectin and its receptors in male reproductive
tract of human and animals. In this study we detect local gene expression of
adiponectin and its two receptors (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2) in the reproductive tract of
ram using realtime-PCR. Adiponectin, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 transcripts were detected in
testes, epididymides (caput, corpus, and cauda), vesicular and bulbourethral glands, while
adiponectin was not found in vasa deferentia. The level of AdipoR2 expression in different
parts of male reproductive tract was more than AdipoR1 expression level (p < 0.05).
The expression levels adiponectin and its receptors were higher in testes and copus of epididymides
in compared to other tissues (p < 0.05). The mRNA levels of adiponectin and its
receptors were higher in vesicular gland than that in bulbourethral glands (p < 0.05). We
provide novel evidence for the expression of adiponectin and its two receptors in male
reproductive tract, suggest that adiponectin produced locally from testes and epithelium
of male reproductive tissues may influence male fertility
