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Retinoic acid receptors and retinoid X receptors in the rat testis during fetal and postnatal development: immunolocalization and implication in the control of the number of gonocytes.
- Source :
-
Biology of reproduction [Biol Reprod] 1999 Dec; Vol. 61 (6), pp. 1548-57. - Publication Year :
- 1999
-
Abstract
- Retinoids have pleiotropic effects on embryonic development and are essential for spermatogenesis in the adult, where they act via nuclear retinoid receptors: retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs). We used immunohistochemistry to examine the cellular localization of RARs and RXRs in the rat testis from Day 13.5 postconception (13.5 dpc) until Day 8 postpartum (8 dpp), and these findings were compared with those for immature and adult testes. RARalpha and RARbeta were detected in the interstitial tissue from 14.5 dpc, with intense staining in the gonocytes from 20. 5 dpc to 8 dpp. The nuclei of all cell types stained faintly for RARgamma from 8 dpp. Immunoreactivity for RXRalpha was intense in the gonocytes from 13.5 dpc and in the Leydig cells from 16.5 dpc, and persisted throughout the period studied. RXRbeta was always detected in the Leydig cells and during a short neonatal period in the gonocytes. RXRgamma gave a faint reaction in the nuclei of all cell types from 20.5 dpc. Unexpectedly, immunostaining for all the receptors tested, except RARgamma and RXRgamma, was detected in the cytoplasmic compartment of the cells of fetal and neonatal testes, while it was found in the nuclei in immature and adult testes. In cultures of dispersed testicular cells from 3 dpp pups, retinoic acid had a dose-dependent deleterious effect on the survival of the gonocytes and, to a lesser extent, of the somatic cells. These results suggest that retinoids act on the testicular development, especially on germ cells, via RARs and/or RXRs.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Animals, Newborn
Cell Count
Cell Nucleus chemistry
Cells, Cultured
Cytoplasm chemistry
Immunohistochemistry
Leydig Cells chemistry
Leydig Cells ultrastructure
Male
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Retinoid X Receptors
Retinoids pharmacology
Sertoli Cells chemistry
Sertoli Cells ultrastructure
Spermatozoa ultrastructure
Testis embryology
Testis ultrastructure
Receptors, Retinoic Acid analysis
Receptors, Retinoic Acid physiology
Sperm Count
Testis growth & development
Transcription Factors analysis
Transcription Factors physiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0006-3363
- Volume :
- 61
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Biology of reproduction
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 10570002
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod61.6.1548