Immunocytochemical localization of testosterone and androgen receptor in testis of Rana chensinensis
YANG Chun1,2, ZHANG Yu-hui1,*
(1 College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi′an 710062, Shaanxi, China;2 College of Life Science, Shanxi Normal University, Linfen 041004, Shanxi, China)
Abstract:
Localisation of testosterone (T) and androgen receptors (AR) was investigated in different stages of the spermatogenetic cycle of Rana chensinensis, using immunocytochemistry. The results showed that both T and AR are distributed in spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids, spermatozoa, Sertoli and Leydig cells from stage Ⅰ to stage Ⅴ of spermatogenesis. A strong positive distribution of T and AR was observed in spermatids in stage Ⅱ. Expression of T in Sertoli cells no significantly changes in intensity from stage Ⅰ to stage Ⅴ of spermatogenesis. In stage Ⅴ, expression of AR in Sertoli cells was higher than that in other stages. Nevertheless, expression of AR in Leydig cells was lower in stage Ⅲ than that in other stages. The results suggested that the roles of T in the differentiation and development of the spermatic cells were highly diverse. There is a T regulation of the function and development of the frog testis.
KeyWords:
Rana chensinensis; testis; testosterone; androgen receptor; immunocytochemistry
