title: Expression of nerve growth factor (NGF), and its receptors TrkA and p75 in the reproductive organs of the adult male rats.
abstract: Immunolocalization of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its receptors, TrkA and p75 in the reproductive organs of adult male rats was investigated. Sections of the testis, efferent duct, epididymis, deferent duct, seminal vesicle, coagulating gland and prostate of adult male rats were immunostained by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex methods (ABC). NGF was expressed in Leydig cells, primary spermatocytes and pachytene spermatocytes in the testis. TrkA only immunoreacted to elongate spermatids and p75 showed positive immunostaining in the Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, the pachytene spermatocytes and elongate spermatids. Immunoreactions for NGF and its two receptors were detected in epithelial cells of efferent duct, deferent duct and epididymis. In addition, immunoreactions for NGF and its two receptors were also observed in columnar secretory epithelium lines of the seminal vesicles, prostate and coagulating gland. These results suggest that NGF is an important growth factor in gonadal function of adult male rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Veterinary Science, The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
authors.forename: ChunMei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Gen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: WanZhu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Chie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Furuta
authors.forename: Akira K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Maiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats / Q000378:metabolism*; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D020917:Receptor, trkA / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D020917:Receptor, trkA