Immunohistochemistry of the cytoskeleton in the excurrent ducts of the testis in birds of the Galloanserae monophyly

Abstract

: The presence, location and degree of immunoexpression of various microfilament (MF) and intermediate filament (IF) systems (actin, cytokeratins, desmin, vimentin) were studied in the excurrent ducts of the testis in sexually mature and active galliform (Japanese quail, domestic fowl, turkey) and anseriform (duck) birds. These proteins were variably expressed between the epithelia and periductal tissue (periductal smooth muscle cell layer and interductal connective tissue) types and between species. Variable heterogeneous co-expression of filament systems was also found in the various duct epithelia and periductal tissue types: co-expression of filament systems was the rule rather than the exception. In the duck, neither vimentin nor cytokeratin was present in any of the tissues, whereas actin and desmin (absent in the rete testis) were co-expressed in the efferent ducts and epididymal duct unit (comprising the ductus conjugens, ductus epididymidis and ductus deferens). Actin, desmin and vimentin were generally co-expressed in the rete testis, efferent ducts and epididymal duct unit of the quail, domestic fowl and turkey, with vimentin being more strongly immunoreactive than actin and desmin in the epididymal duct unit, but more weakly immunoexpressed in the efferent ducts. Cytokeratin was present and co-expressed with actin, desmin and vimentin in the rete testis, efferent ducts and epididymal duct unit of the domestic fowl and turkey, but not in the quail and duck. The periductal smooth muscle cell layer and interductal tissue co-expressed actin, desmin and vimentin variably in all birds. Luminal spermatozoa of both the turkey and duck were immunonegative for all protein systems, whereas those of the quail and domestic fowl co-expressed actin, desmin and vimentin moderately or strongly. The tissues of the reproductive tract of male birds thus contain cytoskeletal protein systems that are variably but mostly co-expressed and whose contractile ability appears necessary and sufficient for transportation through the various excurent ducts of the voluminous testicular fluid and its high sperm content, characteristic features of male avian reproduction.

The Excurrent Ducts of the Testis of the Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) and Ostrich (Struthio camelus): Microstereology of the Epididymis and Immunohistochemistry of its Cytoskeletal Systems

“…This study on the immunohistochemistry of MF and IFs in the various excurrent ducts of the testis in the ratite epididymis complements that in certain members of the Galloanserae (Aire and Ozegbe, 2008). Unlike in mammals (dog and human) (Ramaekers et al., 1985; Kasper and Stosiek, 1989; Dinges et al., 1991; and Wakui et al., 1994), only vimentin was immunoexpressed in the ratite and, specifically, in the emu RT epithelium.…”

“…In this study, only the emu strongly demonstrated vimentin in the ciliated cells in both segments of the efferent ducts. Variations in immunoexpression of different cytoskeletal systems in the efferent ducts of mammals, therefore, do not lack parallels in birds, for example, in the Galloanserae (Aire and Ozegbe, 2008) and in this report.…”

In Utero Exposure to Environmentally Relevant Concentrations of PCB 153 and PCB 118 Disrupts Fetal Testis Development in Sheep

“…Keratin 5, a component of the acroplaxome, may undergo dynamic reorganization during spermatid head elongation (Kierszenbaum et al, 2007). In different birds, Aire and Ozegbe (2008) observed that cytokeratin was present and co-expressed with actin, desmin, and vimentin in the rete testis, efferent ducts, and epididymal duct unit, which is interesting since actin and vimentin were also changed in our study. Kruse et al (2009) noted that in testicular biopsies from infertile human patients, spermatogenic tubules with cytokeratin 18 expressing Sertoli cells exhibited early spermatogenic arrest or only few remaining Sertoli cells.…”

An Immunohistochemical Study of the Oviduct in the Domestic Fowl (Gallus domesticus)

“…Studies have shown that the sequences of vimentin, desmin, SMA and laminin have been conserved during evolution (Nelson and Traub, ; Kabsch and Vandekerckhove, ; Galkin et al., ). The cross‐reactivity of mammalian cytoskeletal and basement membrane antibodies to avian tissue has been demonstrated in several studies (Aire and Ozegbe, , ; Madekurozwa, ; Rodler and Sinowatz, ).…”