Primary cilia in the developing pig testis

In vertebrates, a variety of cell types generate a primary cilium. Cilia are implicated in determination and differentiation of a wide variety of organs and during embryonic development. However, there is little information on the presence or function of primary cilia in the mammalian testis. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize expression of primary cilia in the developing pig testis. Testicular tissue from pigs at 2–10 weeks of age was analyzed for primary cilia by immunocytochemistry. Expression of primary cilia was also analyzed in testicular tissue formed de novo from a single cell suspension ectopically grafted into a mouse host. Functionality of primary cilia was monitored based on cilia elongation after exposure to lithium. Analysis showed that the primary cilium is present in testis cords as well as in the interstitium of the developing pig testis. Germ cells did not express primary cilia. However, we identified Sertoli cells as one of the somatic cell types that produce a primary cilium within the developing testis. Primary cilium expression was reduced from the second to the third week of pig testis development in situ and during de novo morphogenesis of testis tissue from a single cell suspension after xenotransplantation. In vitro, primary cilia were elongated in response to lithium treatment. These results indicate that primary cilia on Sertoli cells may function during testicular development. De novo morphogenesis of testis tissue from single cell suspensions may provide an accessible platform to study and manipulate expression and function of primary cilia.