Expression of Patched-1 and Smoothened in testicular meiotic and post-meiotic cells.
Desert hedgehog (Dhh) signaling plays an essential role in the normal development of the testis and in the process of spermatogenesis. Little is known about the involvement in spermatogenesis of the prototypic member of the family, Ptc1, which acts to suppress hedgehog signaling through Smoothened (Smo). Here, we have examined the expression of Ptc1, Smo, and Dhh in mouse and rat seminiferous epithelium. Our findings demonstrate that Ptc1 and Smo are expressed by primary spermatocytes and by round and condensing spermatids whereas Dhh is expressed by Sertoli cells. The findings suggest that Sertoli cells coordinate Dhh-dependent spermatogenesis events via Ptc1 and Smo prior to the first meiotic division and in postmeiotic (haploid) cells, particularly during the first half of spermiogenesis.
Morales
Carlos R
CR
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. carlos.morales@mcgill.ca
Fox
Andrew
A
El-Alfy
Mohamed
M
Ni
Xiaoyan
X
Argraves
W Scott
WS
D000818:Animals; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D000072079:Patched Receptors; D000072081:Patched-1 Receptor; D051381:Rats; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012670:Seminiferous Epithelium / Q000502:physiology*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*
D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D000072079:Patched Receptors; D000072081:Patched-1 Receptor; C000606240:Ptch1 protein, mouse; C000606239:Ptch1 protein, rat; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled