title: Immunohistochemical demonstration of nerve growth factor receptor in bovine testis.
abstract: Nerve growth factor receptor (low-affinity form) was demonstrated immunohistochemically in bovine testis by using a monoclonal mouse anti-human antibody. In the 7-month-old fetus and in the early postnatal testis, the peritubular and intertubular fibroblast-like mesenchymal cells showed a strong reaction. Following differentiation of these cells into Leydig and myoid peritubular cells, the nerve growth factor receptor was no longer expressed. However, peritubular and intertubular testicular fibroblasts/fibrocytes, which are also derived from mesenchymal precursors, remained positive. Additionally, the nerve growth factor receptor was demonstrated in postnatal prespermatogonia, A-spermatogonia, I-spermatogonia and members of the spermatogonia precursor cell line; B-spermatogonia remained negative. In A-spermatogonia and I-spermatogonia, the expression of the nerve growth factor receptor was cell-cycle-dependent and was mostly observed during G1-phase. Pre-embedding ultrahistochemistry with gold-conjugated antibody followed by silver-enhancement revealed that the nerve growth factor receptor was localized at the outer cell surface. The metal granules showed a regular distribution in positive spermatogonia. In testicular fibroblasts/fibrocytes the long narrow processes were preferentially decorated.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Anatomie der Universität, Universitätsstrasse 31, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Wrobel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bickel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schimmel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kujat
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011247:Pregnancy; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor