Immunohistochemical localization of alphafoetoprotein in testes of mouse embryos at 17 days of gestation.
Immunohistochemistry was used to localize alphafoetoprotein (AFP) in 1 micron plastic sections of embryonic testes in order to investigate the cellular basis of AFP production in murine teratocarcinomas. Atypical germ cells and scattered foci of normal germ cells were AFP-positive in both tumour-susceptible and control animals. AFP could not be demonstrated, however, in tumour stem cells. These results suggest that AFP may be a marker for the endodermal origin of germ cells.
D000818:Animals; D005865:Gestational Age; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D013724:Teratoma / Q000032:analysis; D013737:Testis / Q000032:analysis / Q000196:embryology*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins