Expression of germ cell nuclear factor in mouse germ cells and sperm during postnatal period.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the spatial and temporal expression of germ cell nuclear factor (GCNF) in male mouse germ cells during postnatal development and in sperm before and after capacitation.


METHODS
The indirect immunofluorescence method with anti-GCNF antiserum was used to investigate the GCNF expression in mice at day 8, 10, 14, 17, 20, 28, 35, 70, and 420 after birth and in sperm before and after capacitation.


RESULTS
With the proceeding of spermatogenesis, GCNF was first detected in the nuclei of spermatogonia and a few early stage primary spermatocytes at day 8, which was increased gradually at day 10 to 14 inclusive. From day 17 to day 20, the GCNF was concentrated in round spermatids, while both spermatogonia and early stage primary spermatocytes became GCNF negative. From day 28 until day 420, strong GCNF expression was shown in round spermatids and pachytene spermatocytes, while spermatogonia, early primary spermatocytes and elongating spermatids were all GCNF negative. In addition, it was also found that GCNF was localized on the acrosomal cap region of spermatozoa and there was a big change in GCNF expression during capacitation, from 98 % GCNF positive before capacitation to about 20 % positive following capacitation. The localization of GCNF in caput and cauda spermatozoa was similar.


CONCLUSIONS
GCNF may play important roles in spermatogenesis, capacitation and fertilization.
Department of Histology and Embryology, Shanghai Second Medical University, 280 South Chongqing Road, Shanghai 200025, China.
Chen
C
Xu
Zong-Yao
ZY
Zhou
Qiang-Su
QS
Guo
Yi-Fei
YF
Wang
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000502:physiology; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D057136:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 6, Group A, Member 1; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000235:genetics*; D013075:Sperm Capacitation; D013087:Spermatids / Q000502:physiology; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000502:physiology; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C539954:Nr6a1 protein, mouse; D057136:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 6, Group A, Member 1; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid