title: Spatial and temporal expression of c-mos in mouse testis during postnatal development.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Histology and Embryology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors: Shao-Feng
authors: SF
authors: Cao
authors: Ding
authors: D
authors: Li
authors: Qing
authors: Q
authors: Yuan
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Guan
authors: Chen
authors: C
authors: Xu
mesh_terms: 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*