title: Calretinin is expressed in the Leydig cells of rat testis.
abstract: Calretinin, a highly evolutionarily conserved E-F hand calcium binding protein, is expressed predominantly in neurons, with a few exceptions. The function of calretinin is not known. We demonstrate the expression of calretinin mRNA and protein in rat testes. Immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization reveal that calretinin expression in testis is localized to the interstitial Leydig cells. Western blot and ribonuclease protection analyses show that calretinin protein and mRNA in testis is the same as that expressed in brain. It is suggested that calretinin may play a role in the production of testosterone.
authors.affiliation: NIMH, Laboratory of Clinical Science, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Isaacs
authors.forename: Q N
authors.initials: QN
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Jacobowitz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D064032:Calbindin 2; D015870:Gene Expression; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C576512:Calb2 protein, rat; D064032:Calbindin 2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G