Evidence for a histaminergic system in the human testis.
The complete lack of information about mast cells as a source of histamine and potential target cells for histamine in human testes prompted us to investigate these issues in testes of fertile and infertile patients using a combination of laser microdissection, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and immunohistochemistry. We show for the first time the expression of the rate-limiting enzyme in histamine synthesis-histidine decarboxylase-by human testicular mast cells and the expression of the histamine (H) receptors 1 (H1) and 2 (H2) by germinal, interstitial, and peritubular cells in the testes of fertile and infertile patients.
Albrecht
Martin
M
Anatomisches Institut am Biederstein, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Biedersteiner Strasse 29, 80802 Munich, Germany. M.Albrecht@lrz.uni-muenchen.de
Frungieri
Monica B
MB
Gonzalez-Calvar
Silvia
S
Meineke
Viktor
V
Köhn
Frank M
FM
Mayerhofer
Artur
A
D000328:Adult; D005298:Fertility; D015870:Gene Expression; D006632:Histamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006640:Histidine Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000502:physiology; D011969:Receptors, Histamine H1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011970:Receptors, Histamine H2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
D011969:Receptors, Histamine H1; D011970:Receptors, Histamine H2; D006632:Histamine; D006640:Histidine Decarboxylase