DNA甲基转移酶（DNMT）是精子发生过程中重要的表观遗传修饰。为了进一步评估发育过程中马睾丸中DNMT的模式，我们研究了DNMT1、DNMT3a和DNMT3b在不同时间点的表达和定位。qRT-PCR结果显示，DNMT1在6月龄（0.5y）至2岁（2y）睾丸组织中的表达保持不变，3岁（3y）后下降（P<0.01）。DNMT3a和DNMT3b在睾丸组织中的表达水平在3y时达到峰值（P<0.01）。在4岁（4y）时，DNMT3a和DNMT3b的表达降低，并与0.5时相似。睾丸样品上DNMT1，DNMT3a和DNMT3b的免疫荧光证实了这三种DNA甲基化转移酶在马发育过程中的差异表达和定位。需要进一步的分子生物学研究来了解这些DNMT在马睾丸中的表达模式的含义。
DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are important epigenetic modification during spermatogenesis. To further evaluate the pattern of DNMTs in horse testes during development, we investigated the expression and localization of DNMT1, DNMT3a and DNMT3b at different time points. The qRT-PCR results showed that DNMT1 expression was maintained in testes tissue from 6-month-old (0.5y) to 2-year-old (2y) of age and decreased after 3-year-old (3y) (P < 0.01). The expression levels of DNMT3a and DNMT3b peaked in testes tissue at 3y (P < 0.01). At 4-year-old (4y), the expression of DNMT3a and DNMT3b was decreased and became similar to that at 0.5y. Immunofluorescence of DNMT1, DNMT3a and DNMT3b on testis samples confirmed the differential expression and localization of these three DNA methylation transferases during horse development. Further molecular biological studies are needed to understand the implications of the expression patterns of these DNMTs in horse testes.
