Objective      To prepare the proliferin related protein (PRP) RNAi recombinant lentivirus and study the biological function of PRP gene.     Methods      Expression of PRP gene was inhibited with mRNA. Effectively packaged lentivirus was selected to transfect TM3 interstitial cells. Transfection experiments were divided into TM3-negative control group (transfected with pcDNA

TM

6.2-GW/EmGFP-miR-negative control plasmid) and 3 plasmid-interfering groups (groups A

B and C transfected

with pcDNA6.2-GW/EmGFP-miR-PRP-plasmids A

B and C). Effect of lentivirus on PRP gene expression was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting

respectively. Proliferation of TM3 cells was assayed by MTT and production of testosterone in TM3 cells was detected by ELISA.     Results      PRP RNAi recombinant lentivirus was successfully prepared as confirmed by sequencing. The expression level of PRP mRNA and protein in TM3 cells was significantly lower in groups A and B than in control group (P0.05). MTT assay showed that the proliferation of TM3 cells was faster when the expression of PRP gene was inhibited (P0.01). In addition

down-regulation of PRP gene expression inhibited the LH-stimulated production of testosterone (P0.05).     Conclusion      PRP RNAi recombinant lentivirus can be successfully prepared. PRP gene is not only related with the proliferation of interstitial cells but also participates in the production of testosterone.