Immunolocalization of Steroidogenic Enzymes in the Fetal, Neonatal and Adult Testis of the Shiba Goat

Abstract

Abstract:The localizations of steroidogenic enzymes (P450scc, 3βHSD, P450c17 and P450arom)

Immunohistochemical Localization of Steroidogenic Enzymes in the Testis of the Sika Deer (Cervus nippon) During Developmental and Seasonal Changes

“…Fetal testosterone synthesis has been demonstrated in the rat [29,36], sheep [37], pig [38] and goat [15]. Testosterone is essential for male sexual differentiation and growth of male genital organs in the fetal period.…”

“…The primary antibodies used in this study are summarized in Table 2. The antibodies against P450scc, P450c17, 3βHSD and P450arom were used in previous studies on testicular steroidogenesis [12,15,18,25,26].For the ABC method, the deparaffinized sections were incubated with methanol containing 0.3% H2O2 for 10 min at room temperature (RT) to block endogenous peroxidase activity and then with normal goat serum (1:50, S-1000, Vector Laboratories) for 30 min at RT to prevent nonspecific staining. The samples were incubated with each primary antibody overnight at 4 C. After an overnight incubation, the secondary antibody, biotinylated anti-rabbit IgG raised in the goat (1:200, BA-1000, Vector Laboratories), was applied for 30 min at RT, and then the sections were incubated with ABC for 30 min at RT (1:2, PK-6100, Vectastain Elite ® ABC Kit, Vector Laboratories).…”

“…It is necessary to investigate the localization of steroidogenesis in the testis of each mammalian species because the localization is different among animal species and among developmental and seasonal changes. The present study is the first histological report on the testicular steroidogenesis in Cervidae during developmental and seasonal changes.Three steroidogenic enzymes, P450scc, P450c17 and 3βHSD, which are essential for the synthesis of sex steroid hormones, are localized not only in the Leydig cells but also in other testicular cells, such as Sertoli cells and spermatogenic cells in the monkey [27], American black bear [12], Japanese black bear [28], Hok- [15]. In the present study on sika deer testes, all of the steroidogenic enzymes examined were found only in the Leydig cells, suggesting that the Leydig cells may be the main testicular cells for production of sex steroid hormones, such as testosterone and estradiol.…”

“…In addition, the immunolocalization of steroidogenic enzymes in the testes has been reported to change seasonally in the black bear and northern fur seal [12,13]. Moreover, it has been reported that the expression of steroidogenic enzymes in the testis is different among the developmental stages [14][15][16][17]. In the testes of adult sika deer, it has been reported that the immunohistochemical localization of steroidogenic enzymes found in the breeding season [18].…”

Teasing out the role of aromatase in the healthy and diseased testis

“…18 In the rat, it has been demonstrated that there is a developmentalrelated switch in the cellular location of the main aromatization site, switching from Sertoli cells in sexually immature rats to Leydig cells in mature rats. 11 In contrast, other studies have claimed there is no switch in species such as the stallion, 19 bison, 20 Shiba goat 21 and pig. 22 Interestingly, many seasonal breeding species do exhibit a switch in aromatase localization, however this switch occurs between their breeding and non-breeding seasons including the black bear, 23 sika deer, 24 ground squirrel, 25 bank vole 26,27 and raccoon dog.…”