title: Evidence for a histaminergic system in the human testis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Anatomisches Institut am Biederstein, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Biedersteiner Strasse 29, 80802 Munich, Germany. M.Albrecht@lrz.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: Monica B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Frungieri
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Calvar
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Meineke
authors.forename: Frank M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Köhn
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mayerhofer
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D011969:Receptors, Histamine H1; D011970:Receptors, Histamine H2; D006632:Histamine; D006640:Histidine Decarboxylase