Change in expression of a 90-kDa glycoprotein GP90-MC301 during prenatal and postnatal testicular development: A differentiation marker for rat germ cells

Ichiro Tanii*, Kazuya Yoshinaga

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

GP90-MC301, a 90-kDa glycoprotein recognized by the monoclonal antibody MC301, is a reliable stage-specific marker for preleptotene to pachytene spermatocytes in adult rat testes. In this study we confirmed that the glycoprotein is also useful as a marker for germ cells in prenatal and postnatal testes. Immunohistochemical analysis showed a dramatic change in GP90-MC301 expression in germ cells during testis development. Strong expression was detected in primordial germ cells at embryonic day (E) 13 and in gonocytes at E16, and the expression was then markedly reduced at around the time (E18) gonocytes undergo G1/G0 arrest, and was not restored in gonocytes or spermatogonia afterward. Thereafter, it reappeared in primary spermatocytes in the prepubertal period. Testicular somatic cells such as Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, and peritubular myoid cells expressed GP90-MC301 during specific periods which were largely correlated with periods of active proliferation of these testicular somatic cells. Western blotting showed that GP90-MC301 was expressed during testis development without a change in its molecular size. Thus, GP90-MC301 is potentially useful for the analysis of not only spermatogenesis but also early testis development.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)409-414
Number of pages6
JournalHistochemistry and Cell Biology
Volume118
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002

Keywords

  • G1/G0 arrest
  • Gonocytes
  • Meiosis
  • Oocytes
  • Spermatocytes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Histology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Medical Laboratory Technology
  • Cell Biology

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