title: Microgravity-induced alterations in cultured testicular cells.
abstract: Cultured STe cells (2n karyotype) from swine testis were submitted to simulated microgravity using a 3D Random Positioning Machine for 5 min., 15 min., 30 min., 1 h and 23 h. Sample processing included: histological characterization of cell types, immunohistochemical identification of (i) microtubules (a-tubulin), (ii) alkaline phosphates, (iii) 3 beta-hydroxy-steroid-dehydrogenase (3?-HSDH), and histochemical lipid analyses. After 5 min. simulated microgravity a slight microtubule disorganisation occurred, which increased dramatically with increasing microgravity duration. After 23 h microtubule arrays were completely disrupted. 3 beta-HSDH immunostaining was detectable only in one cell type: under control conditions and 5 min. into microgravity immunoreactivity was strong, but completely disappeared thereafter. Immunostaining intensity for alkaline phosphates, a good marker for myoid cells, decreased after 15 min. in microgravity.
authors.affiliation: Unità Operativa Endocrinologia e Malattie del Ricambio "INRCA" & Università "la Sapienza", Roma, Italy. strofe@flashnet.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Strollo
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Masini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pastorino
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vadrucci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cogoli-Greuter
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Uva
mesh_terms: D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008870:Microtubules / Q000502:physiology*; D012399:Rotation; D013552:Swine; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism; D018474:Weightlessness Simulation
chemical_list: D014404:Tubulin; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; C477269:3 beta-hydroxy-delta 5-steroid dehydrogenase, rat; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase