The expression of osteopontin (OPN) in boar testis was
studied. Western blot analysis detected 66- and 32-kDa
OPN immunopositive bands in the testes of adult boars. In
postnatal piglets, the 66-kDa OPN band was detected in
the testes, but not the 32-kDa band. In the newborn testis,
OPN immunostaining was seen in gonocytes and in some
supporting cells in the seminiferous tubules, as well as in
interstitial Leydig cells. In the adult boar testis, OPN
immunoreactivity was detected in seminiferous tubules
with varying intensities. Intense OPN immunostaining
was seen in the residual bodies and acrosomes in the
spermatids while, occasionally, OPN immunostaining was
seen in spermatogonia and various stage of spermatocytes
but in few Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules. In
addition, Leydig cells in adult boars were weakly
immunostained with OPN. These findings suggest that
OPN is detected in the majority of germ cells and is
involved in spermatogenesis in boar testis.