Lectin-binding pattern of bull testis and epididymis

Seven rhodamine-conjugated lectins (PNA, RCA I, SBA, Con A, WGA, UEA I, DBA) were used to study the distribution of glycoproteins in the testis and epididymis of immature, juvenile, and adult bulls. A marked change was found in the staining pattern of the lectins in the seminiferous tubules during acrosomal development, and the Sertoli cells seemed to have a cyclic affinity for some of the lectins. The distribution of lectin staining in six regions of the bull epididymis showed some typical differences that were associated with the secretory and absorptive functions of the organ. Region 1 was characterized by strong surface and villous staining and a patchy reaction in the principal cells. Regions 2 and 3 showed a strongly reactive apical Golgi zone and secretory material. In regions 4 and 5, the Golgi zone was subapical but strongly reactive with most lectins, while in region 6 a weakly reactive apical Golgi zone was found. During sexual maturation, an increasing number of basal cells with a strong affinity for some lectins was found at the periphery of the epithelium in regions 2 to 6. These regions also had lectin-stained material along the basal border of the principal cells. These findings suggest that the basal cells may be active in the digestion of absorbed material and that they derive from the principal cells, which may be active in transporting absorbed material to them. The staining pattern of the spermatozoa changed during their transit through the epididymis. The degenerating cells in the testis and epididymal tubules also showed an altered affinity for the lectins.     

Distribution of Lectin Binding in Rat Testis and Epididymis

Summary: Seven lectins (PNA, RCA I, SBA, Con A, WGA, UEA I, DBA) conjugated with rhodamine were employed to analyse the staining pattern of glycoproteins with varying sugar residues in the testis and epididymis of adult Wistar rats. Some lectins (UEA I, SBA, DBA) gave rather specific staining of the mature acrosome, while others (PNA, RCA I) showed affinity for the early stages of acrosome formation or had a wide affinity for germinal and non-germinal cells and structures (Con A, WGA). In the epididymis the sperm mass had a homogenous staining reaction with some lectins (PNA, RCA I, Con A, WGA, DBA) which also showed a rather strong reaction on the epithelial surface. It was concluded that this reaction is at least partially due to the secretory products synthetized by principal, apical, narrow and light cells of the epididymal epithelium. Some differences in the staining pattern of these cells were recorded indicating specialization of the cells for the production of distinct glycoproteins. The staining pattern of the interstitial and intertubular compartment of the testis and epididymis was also recorded. Zusammenfassung: Die Verteilung der Lektin-Bindung im Hoden und Nebenhoden der Ratte Sieben Lektine (PNA, RCA I, SBA, Con A, WGA, UEA I, DBA) wurden verbunden mit Rhodamin verwendet, um das Darstellungsmuster von Glykoproteinen mit verschiedenen Zuckerresten im Hoden und Nebenhoden erwachsener Wistar-Ratten zu analysieren. Einige Lektine (UEA I, SBA, DBA) gaben eine recht spezifische Darstellung des reifen Akrosoms, wohingegen andere (PNA, RCA I) eine Affinität zu den frühen Stadien der Akrosomformation zeigten oder eine breite Affinität zu Germinal- und Nichtgerminalzellen und -strukturen aufwiesen (Con A, WGA). Im Nebenhoden zeigte die Spermatozoenmasse ein homogenes Darstellungsmuster mit einigen Lektinen (PNA, RCA I, Con A, WGA, DBA), welche auf der epithelialen Oberfläche auch eine recht starke Reaktion aufwiesen. Es wurde daraus geschlossen, daβ diese Reaktion zumindest teilweise auf die sekretorischen Produkte, die in den Haupt-, Apikal-, Schmal- und Hellzellen des Nebenhodens synthetisiert werden, zurückzuführen ist. Einige Unterschiede im Darstellungsmuster dieser Zellen wurden aufgezeichnet, die die Spezialisierung der Zellen für die Produktion bestimmter Glykoproteine anzeigen. Das Darstellungsmuster des interstitiellen und intertubulären Anteils des Hodens und Nebenhodens wurde ebenfalls aufgezeichnet.     

Lectin affinity of the seminiferous epithelium in healthy and cryptorchid post-pubertal boars

The present study describes the sugar content of the seminiferous epithelium, using lectin histochemistry, in healthy boars and in boars with unilateral and bilateral abdominal cryptorchidism. In healthy boars the apical cytoplasm of Sertoli cells exhibited abundant glucosyl (Con A and WGA lectins), galactosyl (HPA, DBA, SBA and PNA lectins), and fucosyl (AAA lectin) residues. Spermatogonia and spermatocytes contained abundant glucosyl (Con A and WGA lectins) and fucosyl (AAA lectin) residues. In spermatids, galactosyl (SBA and PNA lectins) and glucosyl (Con A and WGA lectins) residues increased progressively throughout spermiogenesis, and fucosyl (AAA lectin) residues decreased. As compared with healthy boars, the scrotal testis of unilateral cryptorchid boars showed decreased amounts of fucosyl (AAA lectin) and galactosyl (HPA and DBA lectins) residues on the Sertoli cell apical cytoplasm; spermatocytes exhibited higher content of glucosyl (Con A lectin) residues and spermatids showed altered nature of glucosyl (Con A and WGA lectins) and galactosyl (SBA and PNA lectins) complexes. In abdominal testes of unilateral and bilateral cryptorchid boars, immature Sertoli cells and spermatogonia showed decreased fucosyl (AAA lectin), and increased glucosyl (Con A and WGA lectins) and galactosyl (SBA and PNA lectins) contents. These results suggest that the seminiferous epithelium of healthy boars has polarized activity with the apical compartment implicated in germ cell-Sertoli cell adhesion and interaction, in transport of ions, substrates and fluids, and in acrosomal differentiation. In scrotal testes, unilateral abdominal cryptorchidism could lead to defective germ cell-Sertoli cell adhesion, impaired acrosomal differentiation and increased ionic transport in the apical compartment of the seminiferous epithelium. Unilateral and bilateral cryptorchidism could induce increased ionic transport and membrane permeability in the seminiferous epithelium of abdominal testes.     

Analysis of glycoconjugate patterns of normal and hormone-induced dysplastic Noble rat prostates, and an androgen-independent Noble rat prostate tumor, by lectin histochemistry and protein blotting

BACKGROUND: Alteration of the expression of glycoconjugates is frequently observed in tumors. However, studies on the changes of cellular glycosylation in the early premalignant stage of prostate carcinogenesis are scarce. METHODS: The present study characterized and compared the glycoconjugates expressed in the dysplastic lateral prostate induced in Noble (Nb) rat by steroid hormones and a transplantable androgen-independent Nb rat prostatic carcinoma line (AIT) by lectin histochemistry and protein blotting. RESULTS: The results of lectin histochemistry show that the dysplastic prostatic epithelium elaborates altered patterns of glycosylation, which are distinct from the normal secretory epithelium. Some individual cells in the dysplastic epithelium were intensely labeled by the N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc)-specific (agglutins from Glycine max [SBA], Helix aspera [HAA], Helix pomatia [HPA], Vicia villosa [VVA], Erythrina cristigalli [ECA]) and complex-type oligosaccharide-specific (Phaseolus vulgaris agglutin [PHA-E]) lectins, indicating that these cells contained abundant GalNAc(alpha1,3)GalNAc/Gal and Gal(beta1,4)GlcNAc(alpha1,2)Man(alpha1,6) residues. These lectins also bound to some tumor cells in the AIT, suggesting that these sugar residues are common in some dysplastic and neoplastic prostatic cells. The study has also identified several lectins (agglutins from Griffonia simplicifolia [GS-I-B4], Arachis hypogaea [PNA], Ricinus communis [RCA-I], Maackia amurensis [MAA], Sambucus nigra [SNA]), which bound only to some AIT tumor cells but not to dysplastic epithelium, indicating that alpha/betaGal and sialic acid-containing glycoconjugates are expressed by neoplastic prostatic cells. The results of lectin blottings with Triticum vulgare agglutin [S-WGA] Ulex europaeus agglutin [UEA-I] and PHA-E have identified five major glycoprotein bands (of apparent molecular weights of 116, 79, 64, 61, and 57 kDa) in the microsomal fraction of testosterone plus 17beta-estradiol (T + E2)-treated lateral prostate. These lectin-reactive bands were not detected in the AIT extracts. In the AIT microsomal extract, two glycoprotein bands of molecular weights of 58 and 46 kDa were revealed by SBA and PNA. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that there is an increased expression of GalNAc(alpha1,3)GalNAc/Gal residues and triantennary complex-type oligosaccharides in the dysplastic epithelial cells as compared to normal secretory epithelial cells in rat lateral prostate. This altered expression of glycoconjugates revealed in the dysplastic epithelium indicates an aberrant glycosylation in the early premalignant stage of prostate carcinogenesis. The results also show that the AIT tumor cells are heterogeneous in their glycoconjugates and different from the dysplastic epithelial cells.     

Effect of Castration on Lectin Staining in Rat Epididymis

Seven rhodamine-conjugated lectins (PNA, RCA I, Con A, WGA, UEA I, SBA, DBA) were used to follow the staining pattern of the rat epididymis at different time points after castration. The affinity of the intratubular sperm mass for the lectins increased rapidly with concurrent augmentation of the staining in the principal cells but a decline of the reaction in the light cells. The light cells showed some differences in their response to castration, which was compatible with secretory/absorptive activity in caput and absorptive activity in cauda. The active phase of sperm mass destruction and epithelial involution was accompanied by local accumulation of macrophages and round cells, which also acquired an increased affinity for most of the lectins. It is concluded that the androgen-deprived epididymis is rapidly programmed for autolytic and phagocytic processes, which include the destruction of macromolecules including glycoproteins of the spermatozoa.     

Age-dependent changes in the carbohydrate pattern of human prostatic epithelium as determined by peroxidase-labeled lectins

Peroxidase-conjugated lectins (peanut agglutinin: PNA; Ricinus communis agglutinin: RCA) were used for histochemical demonstration of the respective carbohydrate binders (PNA: β-D-galactosyl-(1-3)-N-acetyl-galactosamine; RCA: D-galactose). The study of prostatic specimens from four different age groups showed marked differences in cytoplasmic PNA binding of prostatic epithelium. The basal cells of the glandular epithelium displayed cytoplasmic PNA binding only in the infantile stage and during early puberty. With the onset of puberty a number increasing with age of secretory cells developed cytoplasmic binding of PNA, mostly appearing as apically located vacuoles. Intraluminal secretion, however, was never stained. During senile involution the prostatic epithelium lost rapidly its PNA binding capacity. Since no RCA binding of the epithelium was observered, the carbohydrate moiety responsible for PNA binding presumably represents a galactosyl-N-acetyl-galactosamine containing molecule, most likely a glycoprotein, which is present in actively functioning pro-static epithelial cells. It is uncertain whether or not it represents a structural or a secretory component of the prostatic cell.     

Distribution of prostasomes in neoplastic epithelial prostate cells

BACKGROUND: Prostasomes are a secretory product from the prostate. We aimed to investigate whether the distribution and amount of prostasomes in normal prostate epithelium were influenced by the dedifferentiation occurring in adenocarcinomas of the human prostate gland. METHODS: Transurethrally resected material from 11 patients with prostatic carcinoma of various malignancy grades, material from two lymph node metastases, and benign tissue from 10 total prostatectomies were subjected to immunohistochemical staining, using a mouse monoclonal antibody against human prostasomes (mAb78). RESULTS: Immunostaining of low-grade carcinoma was similar to that of normal prostate gland which displayed a cytoplasmic granular staining of the apical (luminal) aspects of the secretory epithelial cells. In moderately well and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, the amount of stained components decreased, and the staining pattern became more heterogeneous. In multilayered glandular structures, the staining was concentrated at the lumen, leaving most other cells negative. The neoplastic cells of lymph node metastases of prostate carcinoma differed in amount and distribution of immunostained prostasomes. CONCLUSIONS: The antigen recognized in the prostasomes by mAb78 was expressed in benign prostate tissue, prostate cancer, and to a lesser degree in lymph node metastases. There was a tendency towards decreased expression with increasing tumor grade.     

Localization of carbohydrate component in human synovial lining cells with fluorescent lectins and enzyme digestion

FITC-conjugated lectins, Con-A, DBA, GS-I, GS-II, PNA, MPA, RCA-I, SBA, UEA-I, WGA were used for demonstration of lectin bindings of human synovial lining cells, obtained from the patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), aseptic necrosis (AN), and traumatic injury (TI). In the RA samples, GS-I binding to the cytoplasmic sites was predominantly noted and moderate SBA and MPA bindings were observed. However, PNA was not significant. In the OA samples, predominant binding was found in GS-I and SBA lectins, moderate binding in MPA and PNA. In the AN samples, binding was predominant in MPA, moderate in GS-I, SBA and PNA. After neuraminidase treatment the intensity of fluorescence increased significantly with PNA and moderately with SBA in the RA samples. These results suggested that the inflammatory lining cells produce galactose group and the content of neuraminic acids in the synovial membranes of the RA appears to be greater than in those of other diseases.     

Lectin Staining of Rat Testis and Epididymis: Effect of Cyproterone Acetate and Testosterone

Control and castrated (C) adult rats were treated with cyproterone acetate (CA), testosterone (T) or their combination (CA + T) for 15 days and the affinity of the testicular and epididymal tissue for seven rhodamine-conjugated lectins was analysed in fluorescence microscopy. In the testis CA caused the appearance of degenerating cells in the basal part of the seminiferous epithelium. These cells (spermatogonia, early spermatocytes) appear to be the most vulnerable germinal cells to anti-androgen treatment and this effect could be prevented by simultaneous administration of T. Castration caused a marked reduction in lectin staining of principal and light cells of distal caput (Dcp) and distal cauda (Dcd) epididymidis accompanied by the disappearance of the intratubular sperm mass. In castrated animals CA caused a moderate and T as well as CA + T a marked increase in the stainability of these cells and the appearance of homogeneous secretory material in the tubules. This material gave moderate or strong affinity for most of the lectins. Some minor differences were found in the staining pattern of the cells and the secretory material in Dcp and Dcd as well as after different treatments. This is consistent with local and qualitative differences in the epididymal secretory and absorptive activity, which can be further modified by the hormonal milieu.     

Growth pattern and citrate production in organ cultures of adult rat ventral prostate

Prostate rudiments from Wistar rats were cultured in MEM supplemented with 15% FBS and insulin (2 μg/ml). In situ prostate acinar epithelium consists of tall columnar and low basal cells. Ultrastructure of the columnar cells is that of typical secretory cells; however, the basal cells are poor in cell organelle. During the first week of culture many secretory cells degenerated and were replaced by cuboidal or low columnar cells. In the presence of testosterone (2 μg/ml) the secretory cells remained viable for 8–10 days before undergoing necrosis. At the termination of the experiment the acinar epithelium consisted of low cuboidal cells. The cultures showed a pattern of citrate production which reached a maximum at 5 days and remained relatively constant thereafter. Ultrastructure of 1-week cultures exhibited Golgi complexes with dilated cisternae. Although a paucity of cell organelle was found in 7-day cultures, older cultures (19 days) exhibited morphologic characteristics of normal secretory cells.     

Analyses of avidin-biotin complexes with lectins of membrane glycoproteins in the urinary bladder of rats treated with N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine

The bladder epithelium was examined by staining with avidin-biotin complexes with lectins to determine the early membrane changes during bladder carcinogenesis in rats treated with N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-nitrosamine (BHBN). Concanavalia ensiformis (Con A), Triticum vulgaris (WGA), Ricinus communis (RCA) and Arachis hypogaea (PNA) were used as probes. The cellular distributions of lectin particles were distinguished into membranous and cytoplasmic patterns. Normal bladder cells stained very slightly and showed a spotty membranous pattern. After treatment of rats with BHBN for two or three weeks, staining became stronger and its pattern changed from a membranous to a cytoplasmic type. The staining of bladder cancer cells induced by BHBN varied from area to area and with different lectins. These data indicated that changes in carbohydrates occur in the bladder cell membrane during the early phase of carcinogenesis.     

Lectins in diagnosis of bladder carcinoma.

With the purpose of studying changes in the expression of glycoconjugate structures in nonmalignant and cancerous lesions of urothelium the lectins ConA, TKA, PNA, DBA, STA, LFA, UEA, MPA, RCA, LCA, GSA1, SBA, GSA2, WGA, PHA and Lot were tested in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections of (1) cold biopsies from normal urothelium and bladder cancer of different grades (G1-G3) in humans, (2) normal transitional epithelium and N-butyl-N(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN)-induced bladder cancer in animal experiments (Wistar rat), and (3) human transitional cancer cell line HT 1376. In human urothelium TKA and SBA were positive markers demonstrating positive staining reactions in all tumor grades without binding to normal epithelium. They stained also the human transitional carcinoma cell line HT 1376 (G3). In Wistar rats DBA, ConA, LCA, SBA, GSA2 and WGA had a specific affinity to BBN-induced carcinoma. Findings of positive lectin marker in transitional cell cancer may offer progress in diagnostics and therapy.     

Lectins expression of parathyroid glands with primary hyperparathyroidism

The binding sites of lectins in parathyroid glands were determined by an immunohistochemical method in normal parathyroid gland, hyperplasia, adenoma and carcinoma, the used lectins were commercially available Glycine max (SBA), Concanavalin enciformis (Con A), Triticum vulgaris (WGA), Richinus communis (RCA), Banderiaea simplicifolia II (BSA II) and Arachis hypogaea (PNA). For normal parathyroid glands (2 cases) and hyperplasia (2 cases), WGA and BSA II were stained in cytoplasma and cell membrane. For carcinoma (1 cases), all lectins but BSA II were positively stained. In particular, SBA revealed more stronger stain than any other hystological types. From the staining patterns of lectins, it was suggested that adenomas (22 cases) be divided into one group similar to carcinoma and the others to normal parathyroid gland and hyperplasia. But there was no difference in clinical data of patients between the two groups.     

Immunohistochemical localization of epithelial membrane antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen and secretory component in urinary bladder cancer

To clarify the relationship between the immunohistochemical distribution pattern of epithelial antigens in transitional cell carcinomas and their histopathological grading and staging, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and secretory component (SC) were localized. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections from 55 patients with bladder carcinoma were stained by the indirect immunoperoxidase method. In normal transitional epithelium, EMA was found on the luminal side of the plasma membrane of a few surface layers, and in the cytoplasm of the superficial cells. In the lower grade and stage of transitional cell carcinoma, only the luminal surface of superficial cells was positively stained. Membrane and cytoplasmic staining of EMA was frequently found in the intermediate and basal layers of the carcinoma, and the incidence of cytoplasmic staining increased with the higher grade and stage. CEA was not detected in normal epithelium. Cytoplasmic staining of CEA was progressively more frequent in the higher grade and stage of transitional cell carcinoma. In normal epithelium SC was observed on the apical surface plasma membrane and in the cytoplasm of the superficial cells, as shown in the immunohistochemical staining for EMA. The correlation of immunohistochemical detection of SC with the grade or stage was not as good as the correlations for EMA or CEA. These findings suggest that immunohistochemical examination for EMA, CEA and SC in bladder carcinoma could provide valuable information for grading or staging in pathological diagnosis.     

Distribution of Glycoconjugates in Human Testis A Histochemical Study Using Fluorescein- and Rhodamine-conjugated Lectins

Differentiation in the seminiferous epithelium involves the orderly transformation of germ cells into spermatozoa. We have employed ten fluorescein- and rhodamine-labeled lectins to visualize distinctive changes in the distribution of carbohydrate containing compounds during spermatogenesis and noticed the increase in RCA I, PNA, SBA and HPA binding sites during germ cell differentiation, suggesting the appearance of certain galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine containing glycoconjugates. Besides, in the cytoplasm of all germ cell types the positive reactions with Con A, LCA, WGA, LPA and UEA I indicate the presence of mannose, N-acetylglucosamine, sialic acid and fucose containing glycosubstances. Developing acrosomes demonstrated binding sites for most lectins, and particular HPA binding glycoconjugates were expressed in the equatorial segment region of late spermatids and testicular spermatozoa. In addition, the characteristic staining patterns of other testicular compartments are described. Our results suggest that human germ cells are rich in various carbohydrate containing compounds and there are specific alterations in cellular glycoconjugates during germ cell differentiation.     

Lectin-Binding Sites in Normal Human Testis/Lektinbindungsstellen normaler humaner Hoden

Nine fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled lectins have been used to investigate the distribution of glycoconjugates in unfixed frozen and Bouin-fixed sections of normal human testis. Interstitial cells and lamina propria of seminiferous tubuli were stained by PNA, HPA, RCA II, SBA, ConA, and WGA indicating an abundance of the following glycoconjugates: N-GlcNAc, N-GalNAc, Gal, and Man. The germinative cells were stained cytoplasmatically by ConA (Alpha-D-Man/-Glc). Sertoli cells showed the same pattern with ConA. Early spermatids fixed PNA and RCA II in the acrosomal region. Elongated spermatids fixed WGA on their acrosomes and fainty on the flagellae too indicating abundance of N-GlcNAc residues. The findings argue for differentiation-related modifications of lectin-binding sites on germinative cells and the usefulness of Bouin-fixed samples for lectin histochemistry.     

Immunohistochemical localization of estrogen-specific 17β-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase in the human and mouse prostate

The estrogen-specific 17β-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase (17β-HSOR) enzyme protein was stained immunohistochemically in the newborn and adult human prostate as well as in the mouse prostate. In the newborn human prostate, ductal and urethral epithelia were faintly stained, whereas in the adult human prostate, intense staining for 17β-HSOR enzyme antigen could be detected in the epithelium of the collecting ducts and urethral epithelium as well as in the epithelium of the intraprostatic vas deferens and seminal vesicle epithelium. Immunostaining was weak in the prostatic tissues of both newborn and adult prostate. No positive cells were found in stroma. The activity of NADPH-dependent ³H-estrone reductase was detectable in cell-free homogenates prepared from human prostatic tissues. The activities showed a good correlation with immunocytochemical findings. In the mouse, neonatal estrogenization resulted in intensively stained epithelium of the collecting ducts at the age of 14 days. Moreover, when adult control and neonatally estrogenized mice were implanted with 17β-estradiol, the metaplastic epithelium of the periurethral collecting ducts of neonatally estrogenized mice was intensively stained with 17β-HSOR. These findings suggest that metaplastic epithelium rises from 17β-HSOR-positive cells. The similar distributions of 17β-HSOR-positive cells confirm the concept of homology in the posterior estrogen-responsive periurethral region (containing the periurethral ducts and periurethral glands) of the mouse and humans. Our findings further suggest that the 17β-HSOR-positive cells may have the same origin and hormonal control in both species. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in cultured middle ear epithelial cells of the guinea pig

Primary cultures of middle ear epithelium from the guinea pig were successfully established on type I collagen coated dishes. To characterize cellular outgrowth, antibodies to the proliferating cell nuclear antigen were used as a marker for spreading cells in the S phase of the cell cycle. A number of migrating epithelial cells positively stained for proliferating cell nuclear antigen after 7 and 14 days in culture. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to evaluate the localization pattern of this antigen, and the fluorescence intensity was quantified in different areas of the migrating epithelial sheet after various times in culture. Two distinct areas proved to be major sites of proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression. One was at the edge of the tissue explants from which multilayered epithelial cells had begun to migrate. The other was along the margin of the outgrowth, where the cells often had elongated shapes and were aligned in rows. The cells in both areas were identified as nonciliated cells; ciliated cells in the outgrowth showed little staining. We hypothesized that the outgrowth cells in this experiment might be identical to the migrating cells usually observed in renewing epithelia after injury. This model may provide a simple and reproducible method of evaluating the regenerative ability of the middle ear epithelium.     

Prosaposin ablation inactivates the MAPK and Akt signaling pathways and interferes with the development of the prostate gland

The recent development of a prosaposin-/-mouse model has allowed the investigation of the role of prosaposin in the development of the male reproductive organs.A morphometric analysis of the male reproductive system of 37 days old mice revealed that prosaposin ablation produced a 30% reduction in size and weight of the testes,37% of the epididymis,75% of the seminal vesicles and 60% of the prostate glands.Light microscopy(LM) showed that smaller testis size from homozygous mutant mice was associated with reduced spermiogenesis.Both,dorsal and ventral lobules of the prostate glands were underdeveloped in the homozygous mutant.LM analysis also showed that prostatic alveoli were considerably smaller and lined by shorter epithelial cells in the homozygous mutant.Smaller tubular diameter and shorter undifferentiated epithelial cells were also observed in seminal vesicles and epididymis. In the efferent ducts of the homozygous mutant mice,the epithelium was composed exclusively of ciliated cells in contrast to the heterozygotes,which showed the presence of nonciliated cells.Radioimmunoassays demonstratedthat testosterone levels were normal or higher in mice with the inactivated prosaposin gene.Immunostaining of prostate sections with an anti-androgen receptor antibody showed that the epithelial cells lining the alveoli express androgen receptor in both the heterozygous and homozygous tissue.Similarly,sections immunostained with antibodies to the phosphorylated MAPKs and Akts strongly reacted with tall prostatic secretory cells in prostate from heterozygous mouse.On the other hand,the epithelial cells in the homozygous prostate remained unstained or weakly stained.These findings demonstrate that inactivation of the prosaposin gene affected the development of the prostate gland and some components of the MAP pathway.     

消癃通闭对大鼠前列腺上皮细胞凋亡的影响

目的研究中药消癃通闭对前列腺上皮细胞凋亡的影响。方法将大鼠分为消癃通闭组、保列治组、去势组、空白组,采用免疫组化原位末端标记染色法,分别在实验后第7、14、21天时,检测各组大鼠前列腺上皮细胞的凋亡百分率。结果消癃通闭组及保列治组在实验第7天时,凋亡百分率达到高峰,分别为9．27％、5．65％,第14天时稍减少,第21天时有所恢复。去势组在第7天时凋亡即出现,到第14天时凋亡百分率达到高峰,与其它组相比差异显。结论中药消癃通闭可在较短时间促进大鼠前列腺上皮细胞凋亡,为该药治疗前列腺增生提供了理论依据。