Localization of Estrogen Receptor α and β RNA in Germinal and Nongerminal Epithelia of the Channel Catfish Testis
Localization of Estrogen Receptor α and β RNA in Germinal and Nongerminal Epithelia of the Channel Catfish Testis
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DOI：
10.1006/gcen.2001.7668
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发表时间：
2001-10
影响因子：
2.7
通讯作者：
Chunfa Wu;R. Patiño;K. Davis;X. Chang
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Chunfa Wu;R. Patiño;K. Davis;X. Chang
摘要 斑点叉尾鮰睾丸前部的生发上皮是精子发生的场所，而后部的非生发上皮（精囊）可能在精液成分的调节中发挥作用。现有信息表明雌激素在调节脊椎动物的精子发生和精液成分中发挥生理作用。然而，人们对硬骨鱼睾丸中雌激素受体（ER）基因表达的细胞分布知之甚少。因此，本研究的目的是确定斑点叉尾鮰成熟睾丸生发和非生发上皮细胞中 ERα 和 ERβ 转录物的存在和细胞分布。全睾丸 RNA 提取物的 RT-PCR 显示成熟睾丸中存在 ERα 和 ERβ RNA。生发上皮组织切片的原位杂交表明，原代精母细胞含有很少或不含 ERα 或 ERβ RNA。然而，这两种 ER 转录本都存在于次级精母细胞和精子细胞中，并且它们的水平在成熟精子中相对较高。精囊的柱状上皮也含有ERα和ERβ RNA。精囊上皮细胞中的 ER RNA 并未均匀分布在整个细胞质中，而是似乎集中在靠近细胞核的顶端区域。总之，ERα和ERβ基因在斑点叉尾鮰成熟睾丸的生发和非生发上皮细胞中共表达，并且似乎在精母细胞中受到发育调节。这些观察结果与雌激素通过与 ERα 和 ERβ 相互作用参与雄配子发育和生育力的调节的概念是一致的。
Abstract The germinal epithelium of the anterior region of the channel catfish testis is the site of spermatogenesis, whereas the nongerminal epithelium of the posterior region (seminal vesicle) may play a role in the regulation of seminal fluid composition. The available information indicates that estrogens play a physiological role in the regulation of spermatogenesis and seminal fluid composition in vertebrates. However, the cellular distribution of estrogen receptor (ER) gene expression in the teleost testis is poorly understood. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the presence and cellular distribution of ERα and ERβ transcripts in germinal and nongerminal epithelia of the mature testis of channel catfish. RT–PCR of whole-testis RNA extracts showed that ERα and ERβ RNAs are present in the mature testis. In situ hybridization of histological sections of the germinal epithelium showed that primary spermatocytes contain little or no ERα or ERβ RNA. However, both ER transcripts were present in secondary spermatocytes and spermatids and their levels were relatively high in mature sperm. The columnar epithelium of the seminal vesicle also contained ERα and ERβ RNA. The ER RNAs in epithelial cells of the seminal vesicle were not evenly distributed throughout the cytoplasm but seemed to concentrate in their apical region, near the nucleus. In conclusion, ERα and ERβ genes are coexpressed in germinal and nongerminal epithelia of the mature testis of channel catfish and seem to be developmentally regulated in spermatocytes. These observations are consistent with the concept that estrogens, via interaction with ERα and ERβ, participate in the regulation of male gamete development and fertility.