Expression of stem cell factor in the postnatal rat testis

Abstract

The expression of stem cell factor (SCF) mRNA and protein was examined in the postnatal rat testis. Northern blot analysis of total RNA from 1–4 days postpartum (dpp) testes showed none or barely detectable levels of the ∼6.5 kb SCF transcript. At 5 dpp, there was a striking elevation in this mRNA, a timing that coincides with the onset of spermatogonial proliferation. Immunohistochemical staining of testes showed that SCF protein was readily detected within Sertoli cells at 1–7 dpp and in the adult. Immunoreactive material was also detected within gonocytes and within Leydig cells at 1–7 dpp and in Leydig cells in the adult. Given the intense staining of Leydig cells by two different antibodies to SCF, the potential synthesis of SCF mRNA by these cells was investigated. Northern blot and reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated that adult Leydig cells do not synthesize SCF mRNA, and Sertoli cells do. The significance of these findings is discussed in the context of germ cell‐Sertoli cell interactions and Leydig cell function. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 47:19–25, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Ghrelin Inhibits the Proliferative Activity of Immature Leydig Cells in Vivo and Regulates Stem Cell Factor Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Expression in Rat Testis

“…Similarly, cyclin A 2 and G 1 mRNAs levels were not affected by ghrelin treatment during the study period. Two SCF transcripts were detected upon RT-PCR: one encoding the soluble form (SCFs) and the other coding for the membrane-bound form (SCFm) of SCF, in keeping with previous studies (33,36). Contrary to observations for MIS and cyclin transcripts, the mRNA levels of both forms of SCF were significantly decreased (P Յ 0.01) at 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after i.t.…”

Estradiol-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2) activity in the frog (Rana esculenta) testis

“…Activation of the MAPK pathway could serve to potentiate these effects, either by acting directly on c-fos or c-jun, or by regulating the expression of the corresponding genes (Deng & Karin 1994). In vertebrates, germ cell proliferation seems to depend on a network of factors interacting locally, such as stem cell factor, c-kit receptor , Munsie et al 1997, gonadotropin-releasing hormone-like sub-stances (Di Matteo et al 1988), platelet-derived growth factor (Li et al 1997) and E 2 (Minucci et al 1997). Although further studies are needed to clarify the signal transduction pathways involved in their activation and the downstream targets of their action, the present findings shed new light in the effort to clarify the molecular mechanisms involved in the process of fertilization.…”

Gene expression profiling of rat spermatogonia and Sertoli cells reveals signaling pathways from stem cells to niche and testicular cancer cells to surrounding stroma

“…These included Dnd1[27], GPR125 [40], Nmyc [41], ItgB1 and ItgA6, as well as Sox2, Myc, Klf4 recognized for stem cell maintenance in ESs or PGCs[42]. Surprisingly, KitL/SCF, coding for a protein secreted by Sertoli cells and involved in Spga differentiation, was up-regulated in G9 as compared to G22 [43]. This result was confirmed by immunofluorescence microscopy on Spga and Sertoli cells isolated from pre-pubertal (9 dpp) and pubertal (22 dpp) rats (Additional file 2, Figure S1).…”