Molecular cloning of rat macrophage-stimulating protein and its involvement in the male reproductive system.
Macrophage-stimulating protein (MSP), a member of the hepatocyte growth factor family, is a ligand for receptor tyrosine kinase STK/RON. Here we isolated a full-length cDNA of rat MSP and a partial cDNA of rat STK/RON, then characterized their expression in the male reproductive system. In situ hybridization revealed that MSP mRNA was localized to spermatogonia and spermatocytes in the testis and the epithelium lining the lumen of the epididymis. On the other hand, RT-PCR analysis showed that STK/RON mRNA was expressed in sperm collected from both testis and epididymis. These findings suggest that locally produced MSP may play a vital role in germ cell-germ cell interaction during spermatogenesis as well as in the acquisition of sperm motility and/or fertilizing capacity in the epididymis. Our findings reveal new possible roles of the MSP-STK/RON signaling pathway.
Ohshiro
K
K
Department of Cell Differentition, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, Japan.
Iwama
A
A
Matsuno
K
K
Ezaki
T
T
Sakamoto
O
O
Hamaguchi
I
I
Takasu
N
N
Suda
T
T
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004822:Epididymis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D006133:Growth Substances; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C082332:macrophage stimulating protein; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; C080835:RON protein; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases