title: The immunocytochemical localization of potential Z-DNA sites in human testicular tubule epithelium.
abstract: Z-DNA has been detected in several pro- and eukaryotic cells and possible roles in regulating transcriptional activity and meiotic recombination proposed. The present study examined the localization of reaction product to potential Z-DNA sites in human testicular tubule epithelium from three subjects using an avidin-biotin complex (ABC)-immunoperoxidase method with a specific rabbit antibody previously shown to react with rat spermatogonial nuclei. A total of 46,626 cells were scored, of which 5656 were Sertoli cells. Eighty-six percent of spermatogonia in mitotic metaphase were found to be negative. Interphase spermatogonia identified as A dark or pale were positive in 93 and 92%, respectively, of cells, and this positivity persisted through B spermatogonia into meiosis. Of 8083 leptotene/zygotene spermatocytes, 99% were positive. Pachytene spermatocytes were 98% positive in the autosomal bivalents. First meiotic metaphase nuclei were negative (92%), as were almost all cells scored of the spermiogenic series (16,195). Nuclei of Sertoli cells had reaction product over the chromatin in 81% of 5656 cells, with no reaction product on the prominent nucleolus. The presence of potential Z-DNA sites in the genome of human spermatogenesis and Sertoli cells during known active stages of transcription (pachytene) and recombination (zygotene/pachytene) suggests a role for this conformation during these stages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York 10032.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Jagiello
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mesa-Tejada
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ducayen
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Khatcherian
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kuenzle
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bowne
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA