title: Laminin expression in testicular tumours of the dog.
abstract: The expression of laminin was studied to determine the distribution pattern of basement membranes (BMs) in normal testes and in a series of 40 canine testicular tumours (seminomas, Leydig and Sertoli cell tumours). BM was always present around seminiferous tubules and blood vessels in normal testes and in seminomas and Sertoli cell tumours of the intratubular type without invasion. BM changes (fragmentation or loss, or both) were usually found in invasive neoplasms which retained their tubular structure; disruption or absence was observed in tumours, with a diffuse pattern. The BM was never expressed in Leydig cell tumours, except around vessels, irrespective of their histological growth pattern (cystic-vascular, pseudoadenomatous, diffuse). An attempt was made to relate the degree of BM modification to proliferative monoclonal antibodies and mitotic index. In parallel with the progressive loss of BM an increase in proliferative activity occurred, indicating that BM changes are additional useful prognostic indicators in testicular tumours of the dog.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Patologia Generale e Anatomia Patologica Veterinaria, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benazzi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sarli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Preziosi
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Marcato
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D007797:Laminin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D007984:Leydig Cell Tumor / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008940:Mitotic Index / Q000276:immunology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D018239:Seminoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012707:Sertoli Cell Tumor / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D007797:Laminin; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen