Molecular Human Reproduction, Vol. 7, No. 5, 403-408,
May 2001
© 2001 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Testis and spermatogenesis |
Expression of Bcl-2 family proteins and spontaneous apoptosis in normal human testis*
1 Institute of Pathology and 2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Hospital, N-0027 Oslo and 3 National Institute of Public Health, N-0403 Oslo, Norway
Abstract
We investigated the frequency of spontaneous apoptosis and expression of the Bcl-2 family of proteins during normal spermatogenesis in man. Testicular tissue with both normal morphology and DNA content was obtained from necro-donors and fixed in Bouin's solution. A TdT-mediated dUTP end-labelling method (TUNEL) was used for the detection of apoptotic cells. Expression of apoptosis regulatory Bcl-2 family proteins and of p53 and p21(Waf1) was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Germ cell apoptosis was detected in all testes and was mainly seen in primary spermatocytes and spermatids and in a few spermatogonia. Bcl-2 and Bak were preferentially expressed in the compartments of spermatocytes and differentiating spermatids, while Bcl-x was preferentially expressed in spermatogonia. Bax showed a preferential expression in nuclei of round spermatids, whereas Bad was only seen in the acrosome region of various stages of spermatids. Mcl-1 staining was weak without a particular pattern, whereas expression of Bcl-w, p53 and p21(Waf1) proteins was not detected by immunohistochemistry. The results show that spontaneous apoptosis occurs in all male germ cell compartments in humans. Bcl-2 family proteins are distributed preferentially within distinct germ cell compartments suggesting a specific role for these proteins in the processes of differentiation and maturation during human spermatogenesis.
apoptosis/Bcl-2 family proteins/immunohistochemistry/spermatogenesis/testis
Notes
* Presented in part at the 16th ESHRE Annual Meeting, Bologna, 2000.
4 To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ole.petter.clausen{at}rikshospitalet.no
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