c-Flip(L) is expressed in undifferentiated mouse male germ cells.
Apoptosis represents a fundamental process during fetal/post-natal testis development. Therefore pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins are essential to regulate testis physiology. c-Flip(L) is a known inhibitor of caspase 8/10 activity; in this study its perinatal expression in mouse male germ cells was investigated. In testis sections and seminiferous tubule whole mount c-Flip(L) was found to be expressed in undifferentiated spermatogonia and to co-localize with germ stem cells markers. In vivo investigations in the vitamin-A deficient mouse, lacking differentiated germ cells, confirmed c-Flip(L) expression in undifferentiated spermatogonia. Further analyses showed Fas expression but no significant caspase 8/10 activity when c-Flip(L) was highly expressed. Altogether these data suggest that c-Flip may control the survival rate of undifferentiated spermatogonia.
Giampietri
Claudia
C
Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Histology and Medical Embryology, University of Rome "La Sapienza", 00161 Rome, Italy. claudia.giampietri@uniroma1.it
Petrungaro
Simonetta
S
Coluccia
Pierpaolo
P
Antonangeli
Fabrizio
F
Paone
Alessio
A
Padula
Fabrizio
F
De Cesaris
Paola
P
Ziparo
Elio
E
Filippini
Antonio
A
D000818:Animals; D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology*; D020169:Caspases; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002470:Cell Survival; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000737:chemistry*; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000166:cytology; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000737:chemistry*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology; D019014:fas Receptor
D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; C506387:Cflar protein, mouse; D019014:fas Receptor; D020169:Caspases