Immunolocalization of inhibin/activin subunits in the shiba goat fetal, neonatal, and adult testes.

The objective of this study was to investigate the cellular immunolocalization of inhibin alpha and inhibin/activin (betaA and betaB) subunits in the fetal, neonatal and adult testes of Shiba goats. The testes were obtained from a fetus at 90 days, a neonate at 15 days, and two adult Shiba goats (both of 3 years old). The sections of testes were immunostained by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method (ABC) using polyclonal antisera raised against porcine inhibin alpha, inhibin/activin betaA, and inhibin/activin betaB. Inhibin alpha and inhibin/activin (betaA and betaB) subunits were expressed in Leydig cells, but not in the Sertoli cells of the fetus with a weak immunostaining. An increase in the number of positive cells and a more intense immunohistochemical signal for inhibin alpha and inhibin/activin (betaA and betaB) subunits were observed in the Leydig cells of neonatal testes. Moreover, inhibin alpha, betaA, and betaB subunits were expressed in the Sertoli cells and Leydig cells of adult testes, respectively. These results suggest that Shiba goats testes have the ability to synthesize inhibins in the fetus, neonate, and adult, and the cellular localization of inhibin/activin subunits showed age-related changes in fetal, neonatal, and adult testes of Shiba goats.

[1]  V. Roberts.  Tissue-specific expression of inhibin/activin subunit and follistatin mRNAs in mid- to late-gestational age human fetal testis and epididymis , 1997, Endocrine.

[2]  D. D. de Kretser,et al.  Inhibins in normal male physiology. , 2004, Seminars in reproductive medicine.

[3]  A. Pappa,et al.  Assessment of Sertoli cell functional reserve and its relationship to sperm parameters. , 2003, International journal of andrology.

[4]  A. Mcneilly,et al.  Expression and localization of inhibin alpha, inhibin/activin betaA and betaB and the activin type II and inhibin beta-glycan receptors in the developing human testis. , 2002, Reproduction.

[5]  N. Tsunoda,et al.  The testis as a major source of circulating inhibins in the male equine fetus during the second half of gestation. , 2002, Journal of andrology.

[6]  E. Nieschlag,et al.  Serum inhibin B in combination with serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a more sensitive marker than serum FSH alone for impaired spermatogenesis in men, but cannot predict the presence of sperm in testicular tissue samples. , 1999, The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism.

[7]  G. Risbridger,et al.  Differential localization of inhibin subunit proteins in the ovine testis during fetal gonadal development. , 1999, Endocrinology.

[8]  N. Skakkeboek,et al.  [Serum inhibin B as a marker of spermatogenesis]. , 1999, Ugeskrift for laeger.

[9]  R. Sharpe,et al.  Testicular expression of inhibin and activin subunits and follistatin in the rat and human fetus and neonate and during postnatal development in the rat. , 1997, Endocrinology.

[10]  M. Stefanini,et al.  Activin stimulates Sertoli cell proliferation in a defined period of rat testis development. , 1995, Endocrinology.

[11]  H. Yamada,et al.  Production and immunohistochemical characterization of specific antibody to oviductal fluid of miniature 'Shiba' goat. , 1995, The Journal of veterinary medical science.

[12]  D. Baird,et al.  Expression of mRNA and immunocytochemical localization of inhibin alpha- and inhibin beta A-subunits in the fetal sheep testis. , 1995, The Journal of endocrinology.

[13]  J. Smith,et al.  Expression of inhibin subunits and follistatin during postimplantation mouse development: decidual expression of activin and expression of follistatin in primitive streak, somites and hindbrain. , 1994, Development.

[14]  M. Kurohmaru,et al.  An ultrastructural study of the Sertoli cell in the Shiba goat. , 1994, The Journal of veterinary medical science.

[15]  V. Roberts,et al.  Expression of messenger ribonucleic acids encoding the inhibin/activin system during mid- and late-gestation rat embryogenesis. , 1994, Endocrinology.

[16]  C. L. Chen.  Inhibin and activin as paracrine/autocrine factors. , 1993, Endocrinology.

[17]  H. Vanderstichele,et al.  Activin is produced by rat Sertoli cells in vitro and can act as an autocrine regulator of Sertoli cell function. , 1993, Endocrinology.

[18]  J. Vaughan,et al.  Localization and secretion of inhibin/activin subunits in the human and subhuman primate fetal gonads. , 1991, The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism.

[19]  M. Benahmed,et al.  Effect of activin A on dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone secretion by primary immature porcine Leydig cells. , 1991, Biology of reproduction.

[20]  J. Rabinovici,et al.  Human recombinant activin-A inhibits proliferation of human fetal adrenal cells in vitro. , 1990, The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism.

[21]  G. Rice,et al.  Activin stimulates spermatogonial proliferation in germ-Sertoli cell cocultures from immature rat testis. , 1990, Endocrinology.

[22]  P. Sawchenko,et al.  Differential production and regulation of inhibin subunits in rat testicular cell types. , 1989, Endocrinology.

[23]  R. Sharpe,et al.  Assessment of the contribution of Leydig cells to the secretion of inhibin by the rat testis , 1989, Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology.

[24]  W. Vale,et al.  Immunostainable inhibin subunits are in multiple types of testicular cells. , 1989, Endocrinology.

[25]  A. Grootenhuis,et al.  Inhibin reduces spermatogonial numbers in testes of adult mice and Chinese hamsters. , 1989, Endocrinology.

[26]  W. Vale,et al.  Regulation of Leydig cell function in primary culture by inhibin and activin. , 1989, Endocrinology.

[27]  J. Vaughan,et al.  Detection and purification of inhibin using antisera generated against synthetic peptide fragments. , 1989, Methods in enzymology.

[28]  J. Vaughan,et al.  Chemical and biological characterization of the inhibin family of protein hormones. , 1988, Recent progress in hormone research.

[29]  J. Vaughan,et al.  Heterodimers and homodimers of inhibin subunits have different paracrine action in the modulation of luteinizing hormone-stimulated androgen biosynthesis. , 1987, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[30]  Joan Vaughan,et al.  Purification and characterization of an FSH releasing protein from porcine ovarian follicular fluid , 1986, Nature.

[31]  Yasuhiko Kano,et al.  Biological Characteristics of Miniature “Shiba” Goats , 1977 .