title: Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) transcript and protein in the testis of several vertebrates, including endangered species.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to influence the testis function. To establish the role of VEGF in the testis of a variety of species, we analyzed the expression of VEGF transcript using human gene-specific primers by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis in the testes of 18 vertebrates, including a few endangered species. An amplicon of 566 bp representing VEGF(165) was identified in testis of all species in this study. Sequence analysis of these amplicons revealed 84 to 96% homology to available human VEGF sequence and to the VEGF sequences of other species in GenBank. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed expression of VEGF protein, primarily in Sertoli and Leydig cells and occasionally in the germ cells of the testis sections. It can be concluded from this study that expression of VEGF transcript is conserved in the testis of several vertebrates and may have a role in the process of spermatogenesis.
authors: Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Hyderabad, India.
authors: Niranjan
authors: N
authors: Reddy
authors: Kiran Babu
authors: KB
authors: Kasukurthi
authors: Ranjeet Singh
authors: RS
authors: Mahla
authors: Rahul Mohanchandra
authors: RM
authors: Pawar
authors: Sandeep
authors: S
authors: Goel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA; D056727:Endangered Species; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA