[Expressions of VEGF and Flt-1 in the testis, epididymis and epididymal sperm of adolescent rats].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expressions of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (Flt-1) in the testis, epididymis and epididymal sperm of adolescent rats and explore the functions of both the proteins in the male reproductive system.


METHODS
The expressions of VEGF and Flt-1 were detected in 20 adolescent SD rats, immunohistochemical staining used for both the testis and the epididymis and immunofluorescent staining for sperm.


RESULTS
VEGF and Flt-1 proteins were specifically present in the testis, epididymis and sperm. In the testis, VEGF immunoreactive particles were localized in the cytoplasm of spermatogenic cells, the developing acrosome of spermatids, Sertoli cells and Leydig cells, while Flt-1 expressed mainly in the developing acrosome of spermatids and Leydig cells. In the epididymis, the cell-specific and region-specific expressions of VEGF and Flt-1 proteins were observed in the principal cells of epididymal epithelia, VEGF in the whole epididymis, while Flt-1 only in the caput and cauda segments. Both VEGF and Flt-1 were localized in the acrosome of the sperm head as well as in the neck, middle and principal segments of the sperm tail.


CONCLUSIONS
The specific expression patterns of VEGF and Flt-1 in the rat testis, epididymis and sperm indicate that they may independently or collectively affect spermatogenesis and spermiotelcosis in either an autocrinological or a
Ai
Qing-yan
QY
Department of Human Anatomy and Histo-Embryology, Xi 'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China. aqy_2001@163.com
Tian
Hong
H
Zhang
Jie
J
Ma
Li
L
Miao
Nai-zhou
NZ
Huo
Yong-wei
YW
Wang
Li-rong
LR
Qiu
Shu-dong
SD
Zhang
Qiu-yang
QY
D000818:Animals; D004822:Epididymis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1