Expression of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide in the adult rat testis by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry

Koh, Phil-ok; Kwak, Soo-dong

Korean Journal of Veterinary Research 2001;41(1):1-6.

Phil-ok Koh¹, Soo-dong Kwak²

¹Department of Oral and Craniofacial Biological Sciences, University of Maryland
²Institute of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine Gyeongsang National University

In situ hybridization법과 면역조직화학적법을 이용한 성숙한 흰쥐고환에서의 pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide의 발현

고필옥¹, 곽수동²

¹미국 Maryland 의과대학교, Oral and Craniofacial Biological Sciences과
²경상대학교 수의과대학 동물의학연구소

Abstract

Pituitary adenyl ate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) was originally isolated from the ovine hypothalamus and stimulated cAMP production in anterior pituitary cells. It is known that PACAP stimulates cAMP accumulation and contributes to the spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis in rat testis. The principal aim of this study is to determinate the distribution of PACAP mRNA and protein in adult rat testis. For this study, we used in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry techniques in adult rat testis. PACAP mRNA was stage specifically expressed in seminiferous tubules. Positive signals of PACAP mRNA were detected in the developing germ cells at stages HI-VII of the epithelial cycle. The strongest signals of PACAP mRNA and protein were detected in round spermatids at stages V to early VII of the cycle. These results demonstrate that PACAP which is synthesised in the developing germ cells contributes to the spermatogenesis in rat testis. Thus, we suggest that PACAP plays a critical role in the function of testis.

Key Words: PACAP, rat, testis