title: Studies on H-Y antigen in different cell fractions of the testis during pubescence: immature germ cells are H-Y antigen negative.
abstract: Various cell types of the rat testis during pubescence, including germ, Sertoli, and Leydig cells, were partially enriched. The fractions were tested for the presence, binding, and secretion of H-Y antigen. The main results are: Immature germ cells are H-Y antigen-negative until the late diploid stages, and late primary spermatocytes or spermatids become positive; the somatic cells of the gonad are positive at all ages examined (18 days old to adulthood). Secretion of H-Y antigen is restricted to the Sertoli cell fraction. Binding of externally supplied antigen takes place on Leydig cells; the Sertoli cell surface will be saturated because of active secretion; there is no binding to germ cells. Thus, immature germ cells seem to be the only H-Y antigen-negative cells of the male organism, and the Sertoli cells seem to be the only ones to secrete H-Y antigen.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D006182:H-Y Antigen; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000276:immunology; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006182:H-Y Antigen