title: Stage-specific localization of transforming growth factor beta1 and beta3 and their receptors during spermatogenesis in men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the stage-specific localization of transforming growth factor (TGF) beta1 and beta3 during spermatogenesis in adult human testis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The localization of TGFbeta1 and beta3 was investigated by immunohistochemical staining method employing specific polyclonal antibodies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both TGFbeta1 and beta3 and their receptors were preponderant in the Leydig cells. TGFbeta1 could not be detected in the seminiferous tubules. TGFbeta3 and TGFbeta-Receptor (R) I were mainly seen in the elongated spermatids, while TGFbeta-RII in the pachytene spermatocytes and weak in the spermatogonia, spermatids and Sertoli cells. Only TGFbeta-RII was detected in the Sertoli cells. TGFbeta3, TGFbeta-RI and TGFbeta-RII showed a staining pattern dependent upon the stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TGFbeta isoforms and their receptors are present in the somatic and germ cells of the adult human testis, suggesting their involvement in the regulation of spermatogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China. zhangyq@fmmu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Yuan-Qiang
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-Zhou
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Jin-Shan
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Rui-An
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Ruo-Jun
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009919:Orchiectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D012670:Seminiferous Epithelium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013087:Spermatids / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D053782:Transforming Growth Factor beta3
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D053782:Transforming Growth Factor beta3