title: A comparison of the effects of testicular maturation and aging on the stage-specific expression of CP-2/cathepsin L messenger ribonucleic acid by Sertoli cells of the Brown Norway rat.
abstract: We have examined the effects of maturation and aging on expression of cyclic protein-2 (CP-2)/cathepsin L mRNA by rat Sertoli cells. During maturation (25-68 days of age) there was a significant, 7.6-fold increase in CP-2/cathepsin L mRNA. There was a significant, 2.9-fold increase in SGP-2 mRNA during the same period. In situ hybridization analysis demonstrated that stage-specific expression of CP-2/cathepsin L mRNA developed between 30 and 35 days. By 64 days of age, this transcript was only detectable in Sertoli cells within stage VI-VII tubules. Northern blot analysis of 23-mo-old testes revealed statistically significant decreases in total testis contents of CP-2/cathepsin L and SGP-2 mRNAs (4- and 3-fold, respectively) in testes that lacked germ cells but not in aged testes with a full complement of germ cells. In situ hybridization analysis revealed high amounts of CP-2/cathepsin L mRNA in all aged tubules that were losing germ cells via apoptosis, regardless of the stage of the cycle. Immunocytochemical analysis demonstrated that in these aged, regressing tubules, CP-2/cathepsin L protein became concentrated in dying or dead germ cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Dynamics, School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D056668:Cathepsin L; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000235:genetics*; D051152:Clusterin; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D010450:Endopeptidases; D015870:Gene Expression; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000166:cytology; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D051152:Clusterin; D006023:Glycoproteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002403:Cathepsins; D010450:Endopeptidases; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D056668:Cathepsin L; C534280:Ctsl protein, rat