年龄相关分子c-kit、HIWI和波形蛋白在不同月龄大鼠睾丸和附睾中的表达

目的:检查c-kit、HIWI和波形蛋白在不同月龄大鼠睾丸和附睾组织中的表达差异,研究睾丸和附睾在成熟和衰老过程中特征性分子表达的规律性改变,为研究男性生殖系统衰老提供实验依据。方法:运用免疫组织化学方法检查6、12、24月龄SD大鼠睾丸和附睾组织中c-kit、HIWI和波形蛋白抗体免疫反应强度,并对其进行比较分析。结果:c-kit特异性免疫反应阳性主要表达于精原细胞,其他细胞表达水平甚弱,不同月龄差异不显著。附睾上皮、附睾管腔内成分亦有c-kit阳性表达。HIWI在大鼠睾丸和附睾组织中表达也很丰富,6月龄和12月龄大鼠中各级生精细胞,尤其是精原细胞和初级精母细胞为免疫反应强阳性细胞;支持细胞、间质细胞、类肌细胞和血管内皮细胞亦为HIWI阳性细胞。附睾上皮有HIWI阳性表达。但是24月龄大鼠睾丸和附睾组织中HIWI表达下调。波形蛋白在睾丸和附睾组织中表达模式为6月龄大鼠睾丸和附睾组织中低表达,24月龄大鼠睾丸和附睾组织表达明显上调(P<0.01)。结论:c-kit、HIWI在24月龄动物睾丸和附睾组织中表达下调,波形蛋白表达随增龄而明显增强。结果提示,睾丸和附睾组织的衰老与细胞和细胞信号转导异常密切相关。

Expression Patterns of Age-related Molecule c-kit, HIWI and Vimentin in the Rat Testis and Epididymis

OBJECTIVE: To examine the differences in the expressions of c-kit, HIWI and vimentin in the testis and epididymis of rats aged different months, investigate the regular changes in the expression of characteristic molecules in the ripening and senescent process of the testis and epididymis, and provide experimental evidence for studies on the aging of the male reproductive system. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into a young group (6-month-old, n=10), an adult group (12-month-old, n=10) and an aged group (24-month-old, n=10). The immunohistochemical SP method was used to examine c-kit, HIWI and vimentin in the testis and epididymis of the rats. RESULTS: The positive immunohistochemical reaction to c-kit was observed mainly in spermatogonia, weakly in other cells and also in the epithelia and lumens of the epididymis. The abundant expression of HIWI was detected in all stages of spermatogenic cells in the testis and epididymis of the 6-month-old and 12-month-old rats. Moreover, spermatogonias and primary spermatocytes displayed intense expression. Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, myoid cells and vascular endothelial cells (VEC) were also HIWI-positive cells. But the positive expression decreased with age in the testis and epididymis of the 24-month-old rats (P > 0.05). vimentin expression was weak in the testis and epididymis of the 6-month-olds but increased significantly in the 24-month-olds (P > 0.01). CONCLUSION: The expressions of c-kit and HIWI decreased in the testis and epididymis of the 24-month-old rats, while vimentin expression increased markedly with age. The results suggest that the aging of the testis and epididymis is closely related to the abnormal transduction of cell signals.