Expression of the SET protein in testes of mice at different developmental stages
Expression of the SET protein in testes of mice at different developmental stages
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SET蛋白在不同发育阶段小鼠睾丸中的表达
DOI：
10.4103/1008-682x.129937
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发表时间：
2014-09-01
影响因子：
2.9
通讯作者：
Cui, Yu-Gui
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Dai, Xiao-Nan;Shao, Shan Liu Li;Cui, Yu-Gui
SET是一种多功能蛋白质，参与调节细胞周期的许多生物学过程。它也是卵巢中类固醇合成的调节剂。然而，SET蛋白在睾丸中的表达及其功能仍不明确。在本研究中，我们观察了SET在不同发育阶段小鼠睾丸中的表达，并探讨了其在调节精子发生和雄激素产生中的潜在功能。实验选用48只不同发育阶段的雄性小鼠(1周龄为婴儿组；4周龄为青春期前组；12周龄为成年组；12月龄以上为老年组)。免疫组织化学方法观察SET蛋白在睾丸中的细胞定位。用定量聚合酶链式反应和Western blotting分析SET mRNA和SET蛋白的表达水平。SET蛋白在精原细胞和精母细胞中表达，在青春期前和成年组的单倍体和四倍体细胞中表达最高，在成年期和老年组的间质细胞中表达最高。Sertoli细胞低表达。青春期前组SET mRNA表达显著高于成年组(P<；0.05)，成年组SET蛋白表达水平最高(P<；0.05)。SET蛋白主要在精原细胞和精母细胞中表达，在Sertoli细胞中表达较弱，提示其参与了精子的发生。SET蛋白在间质细胞中的表达提示可能在类固醇的发生中起作用。
SET is a multifunctional protein involved in regulating many biological processes of the cell cycle. It is also a regulator of steroidogenesis in the ovary. However, the expression of SET protein in testis, and its function, still remains ambiguous. In this study, we observed the expression of SET in the testes of mice at different developmental stages, and have discussed its potential function in regulating spermatogenesis and androgen production. Forty-eight male mice at different developmental stages (1 week old as the infancy group; 4 weeks old as the prepubertal group; 12 weeks old as the adult group; over 12 months old as the ageing group) were used. Cellular location of SET protein in the testes was observed by immuno-histochemistry. Expression levels of Set mRNA and SET protein were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. SET protein was expressed in spermatogonial cells and spermatocytes; the highest level was mainly in haploid and tetraploid cells of the prepubertal and adult groups, and Leydig cells of the adult and ageing groups. There was a low expression in Sertoli cells. Expression of Set mRNA in the prepubertal group was significantly higher than that in the adult group (P < 0.05), while expression of SET protein was at the highest level in the adult group (P < 0.05). SET protein is mainly expressed in spermatogonial cells and spermatocytes, and poorly expressed in Sertoli cells, suggesting that it is involved in spermatogenesis. Expression of SET protein in Leydig cells suggests a possible role in steroidogenesis.