scholarly journals Localization of oestrogen receptor alpha, oestrogen receptor beta and androgen receptors in the rat reproductive organs

2000 ◽  
Vol 165 (2) ◽  
pp. 359-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Pelletier ◽  
C Labrie ◽  
F Labrie

There is now evidence that oestrogens and androgens can influence male and female reproductive systems. In order to accurately identify the sites of action of oestrogens and androgens, we have proceeded to the histological localization of the two oestrogen receptor (ER) subtypes, ERalpha and ERbeta, and the androgen receptor (AR) in the reproductive tissues of adult rats of both sexes. AR was detected by immunocytochemistry, while ERalpha and ERbeta were localized by both immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization. In the pituitary gland of animals of both sexes, ERalpha was found in the majority of nuclei of secretory cells in the anterior pituitary. The intermediate and posterior lobes did not show any staining. ERbeta was not found to be expressed in any of the pituitary lobes. Using AR antibodies, nuclear staining was detected in about 50% of secretory cells of the anterior lobe, the intermediate and posterior lobes being completely unstained. In the testis, ERalpha was localized in nuclei of Leydig cells as well as in round spermatocytes and spermatids, while ERbeta could only be detected in Sertoli cell nuclei. AR immunoreactivity was found in nuclei of Sertoli, peritubular myoid and Leydig cells. In the prostate, ERbeta was observed in epithelial cells of tubulo-alveoli, while the stroma was unlabelled. ERalpha was not found to be expressed in any prostate cells. In the prostate, AR was detected in nuclei of epithelial, stromal and endothelial cells. In seminal vesicles, staining of ERalpha was found in nuclei of epithelial and stromal cells. Similar findings were observed using AR antibodies. While ERbeta mRNA could not be detected by in situ hybridization, weak staining for ERbeta was localized in epithelial cells of seminal vesicles. In the ovary, both ERalpha and ERbeta were found to be expressed. ERbeta mRNA was found in granulosa cells of growing follicles, while ERalpha was present in theca cells, interstitial gland cells and germinal epithelium. AR immunoreactivity was detected in granulosa cell nuclei in growing follicles and also in scattered interstitial cells. In the oviduct and uterus, ERalpha was observed in nuclei of epithelial cells as well as of stromal and muscle cells. Similarly, AR immunoreactivity was present in nuclei of epithelial cells, stromal and muscle cells in both the oviduct and uterus. ERbeta was not detected in the oviduct and uterus. The present findings indicate a cell-specific localization of ERalpha, ERbeta and AR in reproductive tissues in rats of both sexes. By establishing the precise sites of action of oestrogens and androgens they contribute to a better understanding of the respective role of these steroids in reproduction function.

1998 ◽  
Vol 156 (3) ◽  
pp. R13-R17 ◽  
Author(s):  
PT Saunders ◽  
JS Fisher ◽  
RM Sharpe ◽  
MR Millar

The identification of a second oestrogen receptor (beta) has prompted a re-evaluation of the potential sites of action of oestrogens. The aim of the present study was to characterize immunoexpression of ER beta expression in the testis to complement earlier data which had demonstrated that expression of ER alpha is confined to testicular interstitial Leydig cells. In all testes studied, including those from both fetal (day 20.5 p.c.) and adult rats, ER beta was found to be expressed in multiple cell types. Sertoli cell nuclei were immunopositive at all ages. In adult testes expression in Sertoli cells was not stage dependent and was unaffected by ablation of Leydig cells. In fetal testes ER beta was also expressed in peritubular cells, fetal Leydig cells and gonocytes. In the pubertal and adult testis ER beta was detected in the nuclei of spermatogonia and most pachytene spermatocytes. Weak immunopositive staining was present in the cytoplasm of spermatocytes undergoing the second meiotic division. In conclusion the widespread expression of ER beta in the testis is consistent with a role for oestrogens in modulating spermatogenesis, and hence fertility, in the male.


2005 ◽  
Vol 53 (10) ◽  
pp. 1257-1271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georges Pelletier ◽  
Van Luu-The ◽  
Songyun Li ◽  
Fernand Labrie

The enzyme type 8 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) selectively catalyzes the conversion of estradiol (E2) to estrone (E1). To obtain detailed information on the sites of action of type 8 17β-HSD, we have studied the cellular localization of type 8 17β-HSD mRNA in mouse tissues using in situ hybridization. In the ovary, hybridization signal was detected in granulosa cells of growing follicles and luteal cells. In the uterus, type 8 17β-HSD mRNA was found in the epithelial (luminal and glandular) and stromal cells. In the female mammary gland, the enzyme mRNA was seen in ductal epithelial cells and stromal cells. In the testis, hybridization signal was observed in the seminiferous tubule. In the prostate, type 8 17β-HSD was detected in the epithelial cells of the acini and stromal cells. In the clitoral and preputial glands, labeling was detected in the epithelial cells of acini and small ducts. The three lobes of the pituitary gland were labeled. In the adrenal gland, hybridization signal was observed in the three zones of the cortex, the medulla being unlabeled. In the kidney, the enzyme mRNA was found to be expressed in the epithelial cells of proximal convoluted tubules. In the liver, all the hepatocytes exhibited a positive signal. In the lung, type 8 17β-HSD mRNA was detected in bronchial epithelial cells and walls of pulmonary arteries. The present data suggest that type 8 17β-HSD can exert its action to downregulate E2 levels in a large variety of tissues.


Reproduction ◽  
2000 ◽  
pp. 303-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
CM Rodriguez ◽  
GJ Killian ◽  

The aim of this study was to localize expression of the prostaglandin D synthase gene in the reproductive tracts of Holstein bulls using northern blotting and in situ hybridization. For northern blotting, a digoxigenin-labelled prostaglandin D synthase cDNA probe was used to probe blots containing RNA isolated from the testes, epididymides, vas deferens, ampullae, seminal vesicles, prostate and bulbourethral glands of bulls. The digoxigenin-labelled cDNA for the bovine homologue of prostaglandin D synthase hybridized to a single band (approximately 0.9 kb) to RNA samples from the caput, corpus and cauda epididymides, as well as RNA samples from the vas deferens and the ampulla. The probe also detected a single band in testis samples, although the transcript size was slightly larger (approximately 1.0 kb) than the transcript found in the other tissues. The highest expression of prostaglandin D synthase was observed in the testes and caput epididymides. Prostaglandin D synthase transcripts were not found in the seminal vesicles or the prostate or bulbourethral glands using northern blotting. For in situ hybridization, antisense and sense riboprobes were synthesized and used to hybridize to cryosections obtained from the reproductive tissues of bulls. In situ hybridization of bull testes showed that prostaglandin D synthase transcripts were present within the germ cells in the adluminal compartment of the seminiferous tubules containing round and elongated spermatids, indicating that expression varied with stage of development of the seminiferous tubules. Prostaglandin D synthase expression was observed in the epithelial cells of the epididymides with greatest expression occurring in the caput epididymidis. Some expression was also observed in the epithelial cells of the vas deferens and a few cells of some lobules in the prostate and bulbourethral glands. Expression of the prostaglandin D synthase gene was not detected in ampullae or seminal vesicles by in situ hybridization.


2012 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 443-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaozhu Wang ◽  
Shin-ichiro Takebayashi ◽  
Evans Bernardin ◽  
David M. Gilbert ◽  
Ravindran Chella ◽  
...  

1993 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 342-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
S L Patrick ◽  
T C Wright ◽  
H E Fox ◽  
H S Ginsberg

Women are infected with HIV in increasing numbers; the predominant mode of spread is through heterosexual transmission. Little is known regarding the mechanism of HIV transit through the female genital tract. We investigated whether early passaage cervical epithelial cells could be directly infected with HIV-1LAI*. Virus production was measured using the reverse transcriptase (RT) assay and direct assay for syncytia-forming units. In-situ hybridization was performed on infected cervical cell cultures. Immunostaining was carried out using a monoclonal antibody to leukocyte common antigen (LCA). Virus was recovered in the supernatants of all infected cervical cultures. Localization of HIV infection using in-situ hybridization identified rare cells in the population which gave a strong signal. These infected cells had a lymphoid morphology and were also detected using immunostaining for LAC. Cervical epithelial cells were uninfected in this in vitro model; cells in this population which supported viral replication were most likely of the macrophage/monocyte lineage.


Development ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 110 (4) ◽  
pp. 1057-1069 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Manova ◽  
K. Nocka ◽  
P. Besmer ◽  
R.F. Bachvarova

Recently, it has been shown that the c-kit proto-oncogene is encoded at the white spotting (W) locus in mice. Mutations of this gene cause depletion of germ cells, some hematopoietic cells and melanocytes. In order to define further the role of c-kit in gametogenesis, we have examined its expression in late fetal and postnatal ovaries and in postnatal testis. By RNA blot analysis, c-kit transcripts were not detected in late fetal ovaries but appeared at birth. The relative amount reached a maximum in ovaries of juvenile mice, and decreased in adult ovaries. c-kit transcripts were present in increasing amounts in isolated primordial, growing and full-grown oocytes, as well as in ovulated eggs. Little was detected in early 2-cell embryos and none in blastocysts. In situ hybridization revealed c-kit transcripts in a few oocytes of late fetal ovaries and in all oocytes (from primordial to full-grown) in ovaries from juvenile and adult mice. Expression was also observed in ovarian interstitial tissue from 14 days of age onward. Using indirect immunofluorescence, the c-kit protein was detected on the surface of primordial, growing and full-grown oocytes, as well as on embryos at the 1- and 2-cell stages; little remained in blastocysts. In situ hybridization analysis of testes from mice of different ages demonstrated expression in spermatogonia from 6 days of age onward. Using information provided by determining the stage of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium for a given tubule and by following the age dependence of labeling, it was concluded that the period of expression of c-kit extends from at least as early as type A2 spermatogonia through type B spermatogonia and into preleptotene spermatocytes. Leydig cells were labelled at all ages examined. The expression pattern in oocytes correlates most strongly with oocyte growth and in male germ cells with gonial proliferation.


Blood ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
pp. 1512-1519 ◽  
Author(s):  
LJ Coignet ◽  
E Schuuring ◽  
RE Kibbelaar ◽  
TK Raap ◽  
KK Kleiverda ◽  
...  

Rearrangements within the chromosome 11q13 region are frequent in hematologic malignancies. 50% of 75% of mantle cell lymphomas (MCLs) carry a translocation t(11;14) (q13;q32). Using Southern blot analysis, a BCL1 breakpoint can be detected in approximately 50% of MCLs. It is not known whether other MCLs harbor also breakpoints at 11q13. Breakpoints in this region not involved in t(11;14), are detected in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia. To detect and localize breakpoints at 11q13 more accurately, we have developed fluorescence in situ hybridization using two probe sets of differently labeled cosmids, symmetrically localized at either side of the major translocation cluster of BCL1. These probes span a region of 450 to 750 kb. We applied this assay to a series of hematologic malignancies with 11q13 abnormalities identified by classical cytogenetics. All four samples with a t(11;14) (q13;q32) showed dissociation of the differently colored signals in metaphase and interphase cells, thereby indicating a chromosomal break in the region defined by the probe sets. The frequency of abnormal metaphase and interphase cells was comparable with that observed in any of the 13 malignancies with other chromosomal 11q13 abnormalities, indicating that these chromosomal breaks occurred outside the 450- to 750-kb region covered by the probes. One patient showed triplication and one patient showed monoallelic loss of this region. The current data show that double-color fluorescence in situ hybridization is a simple and reliable method for detection of the t(11;14)(q13;q32) in interphase cell nuclei and that is can be used to distinguish this translocation from other 11q13 rearrangements in hematologic malignancies.


1986 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 949-952 ◽  
Author(s):  
A J Stauder ◽  
P W Dickson ◽  
A R Aldred ◽  
G Schreiber ◽  
F A Mendelsohn ◽  
...  

The sites of synthesis of transthyretin in the brain were investigated using in situ hybridization with [35S]-labeled recombinant cDNA probes specific for transthyretin mRNA. Autoradiography of hybridized coronal sections of rat brain revealed specific cellular localization of transthyretin mRNA in choroid plexus epithelial cells of the lateral, third, and fourth ventricles. Transferrin mRNA was also investigated and, in contrast to transthyretin mRNA, was localized mainly in the lateral ventricles. Our results indicate that substantial synthesis of transthyretin and transferrin mRNA may occur in the choroid plexus.


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