Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression and role of c-Flip long isoform (c-FlipL), a known anti-apoptotic protein. No data are currently available on c-FlipL in male gonad before puberty; therefore, this study was carried out in prepuberal mouse testis. We investigated pachytene spermatocytes and spermatogonia by immunostaining of testis sections and found a strong and specific expression of c-FlipL in pachytene spermatocytes, while spermatogonia expressed very low levels of c-FlipL. This finding inversely correlated with the caspases activity, which was higher in spermatogonia as compared to pachytene spermatocytes. Other experiments carried out in an organ-culture model revealed that Fas-induced apoptosis was higher in spermatogonia as compared to pachytene spermatocytes. These data suggest that c-FlipL may play a role as an anti-apoptotic molecule in the prepuberal mouse testis and open new perspectives in the comprehension of the mechanisms controlling germ cells apoptosis.
| Lingua originale | Inglese |
|---|---|
| pagine (da-a) | 298-302 |
| Numero di pagine | 5 |
| Rivista | Contraception |
| Volume | 72 |
| DOI | |
| Stato di pubblicazione | Pubblicato - 2005 |
Keywords
- Apoptosis
- CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein
- Caspases
- Cell Differentiation
- Immunohistochemistry
- Mice
- Organ Culture Techniques
- Sexual Maturation
- Spermatocytes
- Spermatogenesis
- Spermatogonia
- Spermatozoa
- Testis