title: [Distribution of Mahoganoid protein its mRNA in the testes and epididymides of mature male rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To localize the Mahoganoid protein and Mahoganoid mRNA in the testes and epididymides of mature male rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Testes and epididymides obtained from mature male SD rats (n = 20) were fixed by 4% poly formaldehyde and sliced for immunohistochemical (IHC) test and in situ hybridization (ISH) test, respectively, for detecting Mahoganoid protein and Mahoganoid mRNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both the 2 tests, clear brown staining was observed in Leydig cells, spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, spermatids, Sertoli cells, and peritubular myoid cells. Both the Mahoganoid protein and its mRNA were mainly located on cell membrane and cytoplasm. And in the epididymis tissues, the Mahoganoid protein and Mahoganoid mRNA were respectively expressed within the membrane and cytoplasm of principal cells, basic cells and epithelial cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both Mahoganoid protein and Mahoganoid mRNA are expressed in the male rat reproductive system and localized in Leydig cells, Sertoli cells, spermatogenic cells and epithelial cells. They play an important role in spermatogenesis but their physiological significance remains to be clarified.
authors.affiliation: Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China. huyuan0528@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Cheng-Liang
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Shi-Liang
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004822:Epididymis / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C518843:Mgrn1 protein, rat; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases