Immunohistochemical evaluation of GATA-4 in canine testicular tumors.
GATA-4 is a transcription factor expressed in Sertoli cells and less commonly in Leydig (interstitial) cells but not germ cells in adult human beings, cattle, pigs, and mice. We examined GATA-4 in 76 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded canine testicular tumors, including 21 Sertoli cell tumors (SCT), 28 Leydig (interstitial) cell tumors (LCT), 24 seminomas (GCT), and 3 mixed germ cell sex cord-stromal tumors (MGSCT). Our hypothesis was that immunohistochemistry for GATA-4 could discriminate between germ cell and sex cord-stromal tumors of the canine testis. SCTs (21/21) had strong diffuse nuclear and weak and inconsistent cytoplasmic staining. LCTs (27/28) also had strong diffuse nuclear staining and much weaker and granular cytoplasmic staining. GCTs were negative for this marker. Sex cord-stromal cells of MGSCT were also positive. These results indicate that GATA-4 is mainly expressed in sex cord-stromal tumors and not in germ cell tumors of the canine testis.
Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Purdue University, 406 South University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. ramosja@purdue.edu
J A
JA
Ramos-Vara
M A
MA
Miller
D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D007984:Leydig Cell Tumor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D012707:Sertoli Cell Tumor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018312:Sex Cord-Gonadal Stromal Tumors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor