Spatial and temporal expression of c-mos in mouse testis during postnatal development.
OBJECTIVE
To immunolocalize the c-mos gene product and to investigate its spatial and temporal expression in mouse testis during postnatal development.


METHODS
Semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ hybridization techniques were used to examine c-mos mRNA and indirect immunofluorescence was used to localize c-Mos protein in mouse testis on postnatal days 14, 21, 25, 28, 30, 35, 49 and 70.


RESULTS
c-mos mRNA remained low on postnatal days 14-21, increased abruptly from day 25 and peaked on day 30. Its levels decreased a little on day 35 and became almost stable thereafter until day 70. c-mos mRNA was localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm of the spermatocytes and round spermatids. The nuclear staining was much stronger than the cytoplasmic staining. Using a polyclonal anti-c-Mos antibody, Western blotting detected a single band at 43 kDa in testis lysate. c-Mos protein was exclusively localized to the elongating spermatids and was first detected on postnatal day 30. The number of c-Mos-positive spermatids increased progressively till day 49 and stabilized thereafter.


CONCLUSIONS
The c-mos gene displays a spatial and temporal expression pattern in the mouse testis during postnatal development at both the mRNA and protein level. This suggests that c-mos might play important roles in spermatogenesis.
Cao
Shao-Feng
SF
Department of Histology and Embryology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Li
Ding
D
Yuan
Qing
Q
Guan
Xin
X
Xu
Chen
C
D000818:Animals; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D015870:Gene Expression; D016258:Genes, mos / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*