title: Inhibin-α, E-cadherin, calretinin and Ki-67 antigen in the immunohistochemical evaluation of canine and human testicular neoplasms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The steady increase of dogs with diagnosed testicular neoplasms observed in recent years prompted us to carry out immunohistochemical (IHC) studies for their better characterization. The aim of the study was to analyze most common canine testicular neoplasms (seminomas, Leydig cell and Sertoli cell tumors) with selected IHC markers and to compare the expressions of these proteins in corresponding canine and human testicular tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies were carried out on testicular canine tumors: 40 cases of seminoma, 40 cases of Leydig cell tumor and 40 cases of Sertoli cell tumor. Moreover, 15 cases of human seminomas and 5 cases of human Leydig cell tumors were also analyzed. Immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin sections by standard technique using monoclonal anti-human antibodies against E-cadherin, inhibin-α, calretinin and Ki-67. The slides were subjected to computer-aided image analysis and the intensity of the immunoreactivity was assessed by a semi-quantitative scoring system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Due to the very low prevalence of the Sertoli cell-derived tumors in the human population, we were able to examine the markers' expression only in the canine gonadal tumors. We revealed that, apart from E-cadherin in Leydig cell tumors and calretinin in seminomas, the expression of all the analyzed markers in canine and human testicular tumors was similar. E.g. there was no immunoexpression of inhibin-α in 75% of canine and 100% of human cases of seminoma. The immunoreactivity of Ki-67 was intense in 40% of canine and 60% of human seminomas. Immunoexpression of inhibin-α in Leydig cell tumor was intense in 70% of canine and 100% of human cases, respectively. Also the immunoreactivity of calretinin was intense in 75% of cases of canine and 100% of human Leydig cell tumors. In 50% of canine and 40% of human Leydig cell tumors, the immunoexpression of Ki-67 was weak.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The applied anti-human monoclonal antibodies against common antigens and markers of human testicular neoplasms could be routinely used for the immunohistochemical evaluation of canine testicular tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathomorphology and Forensic Veterinary Science, Chair of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland. rafal.ciaputa@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rafal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ciaputa
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.forename: Janusz A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Madej
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Poradowski
authors.forename: Izabela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Janus
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dziegiel
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gorzynska
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kandefer-Gola
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D064032:Calbindin 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007265:Inhibins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D015820:Cadherins; D064032:Calbindin 2; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; C094377:inhibin-alpha subunit; D007265:Inhibins