Apoptosis and proliferation during seasonal testis regression in the brown hare (Lepus europaeus L.).
Testes samples of 52 brown hares (Lepus europaeus L.), sacrificed between July and January, were subjected to immuno histochemical analysis. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated d'UTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) method was applied to detect apoptosis; and antibodies to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were used to evaluate cell proliferation in the testes. In the seminiferous epithelium, the apoptotic processes were evident from August to early November with maximal values in September. Cell death in germ cells occurs predominantly during the prophase of the first meiotic division. In July, and from mid-November onwards, only the occasional TUNEL-positive cells can be seen. The proliferation of germ cells continues during the testis regression phase. The average number of PCNA-positive cells decreases slightly from September onwards and rises again in mid-November.
Institute for Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljublijana, Gerbiceva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
M
M
Strbenc
G
G
Fazarinc
S V
SV
Bavdek
A
A
Pogacnik
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling / Q000662:veterinary; D007793:Lagomorpha / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D012621:Seasons; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology
D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen