title: Ontogenesis and cell specific localization of Fas ligand expression in the rat testis.
abstract: Over the past few years, a number of experimental evidences suggested the involvement of Fas Ligand (FasL) expressing Sertoli cells to induce apoptosis of Fas bearing germ cells. However, the FasL expression during testicular development and its cell specific localization within the testis is still a matter of debate. In the present study, we have monitored FasL expression during rat testis development by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and evaluated cell specific localization of FasL expression, by in situ RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, on adult rat testis. RT-PCR analysis, performed on total RNA from rat testes obtained from 1 day up to 1-year-old animals, demonstrated the presence of FasL transcripts at all developmental stages examined. In situ RT-PCR analysis clearly indicated the presence of FasL mRNA in Sertoli cells of adult testis, while we could never detect FasL transcripts in germ cells. Immunohistochemistry experiments showed a strong immunostaining for FasL in Sertoli cells of adult testis and again, no immunopositivity was observed in germ cells. In conclusion, our data suggest that FasL expression in rat testis is present from the early postnatal days up to the adult, and the Sertoli cells is the main FasL expressing cell within the seminiferous tubule.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Piera
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: D'Abrizio
authors.forename: Enke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baldini
authors.forename: Paola F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Leda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Biordi
authors.forename: Filomena M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Graziano
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rucci
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Properzi
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Francavilla
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ulisse
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D017931:DNA Primers; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C505662:Faslg protein, rat; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger