通常甜、鲜味可诱使动物采食，其中鲜味感知主要依赖于味觉受体第一家族（Taste receptor family 1, T1Rs）的鲜味受体T1R3+T1R1，甜味感知则依赖于甜味受体T1R2+T1R3。近年来，越来越多研究发现T1Rs受体存在于口腔以外的组织器官中，发挥着特殊的生理作用。我们前期研究发现，T1R3受体的激活影响小鼠睾丸睾酮合成。同时，另有研究表明T1Rs及其下游信号分子在睾丸中不同程度表达，但是否存在关联尚未可知。本课题拟结合香猪睾丸发育特性从在体-细胞-分子水平探究T1Rs参与香猪早熟过程中睾丸激素合成调控的机制。

Sweet and umami taste are widely regarded as appetitive sensations, which are detected by taste receptor family 1 (T1Rs: T1R1, T1R2 and T1R3) in taste receptor cells (TRCs). T1R1 and T1R3 dimerize as an umami receptor for umami taste, while T1R2 combines with T1R3 form a sweet receptor to bind sweet tasting molecules. Recently, accumulating evidence indicates that T1R receptors are expressed not only in oral, but one or more of T1Rs have also been identified in the extra-oral tissues to produce the novel physiological effects. In agreement, our previous work indicated that the activated T1R3 affected testicular testosterone biosynthesis in mouse. Additionally, others’ studies found the expressions of T1Rs and their down-stream signaling molecules in testes to some degree, but their connections still obscure. Therefore, combined with the characteristics of testicular development, the in-vitro and in-vivo studies on the roles of T1Rs in testicular hormones biosynthesis during the precocious process of Xiang pig were investigated in present study.