Department of Cytology and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
J Mol Histol. 2009 Oct;40(5-6):407-16. doi: 10.1007/s10735-010-9254-x. Epub 2010 Feb 16.
The present investigation was conducted to demonstrate laminin and alpha smooth muscle actin (alphaSMA) in the testis and epididymis of adult chickens, Sudani ducks, pigeons, and rabbits. This study may represent the first indication for the presence of laminin in the male reproductive organs of birds and rabbits and might therefore serve as a milestone for further reports. In the testis of chicken, Sudani duck, pigeon, and rabbit, the laminin was localized in the basal lamina of the seminiferous tubules and of the peritubular myoid cells, in the testicular capsule and to a small extent in the vicinity of Leydig cells. The testicular vasculature also exhibited intense laminin immunostaining. Weak laminin staining was additionally seen in the cytoplasm of the duck Sertoli cells. In the epididymis, the basal lamina of the epididymal epithelium showed a distinctly positive reaction in all birds and rabbit. The basal lamina of the periductal myoid cells also showed a positive reaction. In the interductal tissue, laminin immunostaining was particularly observed in chicken, duck and pigeon. Laminin positive reaction was also seen in the epididymal vasculatures of all birds and rabbit. Interestingly, weak to moderate laminin staining was observed in the apical surface of the ciliated cells of the proximal and distal efferent ductules in chicken, duck and pigeon. alphaSMA positive reaction was seen in the testicular capsule and in the peritubular myoid cells of all birds and rabbit. In the testicular capsule, alphaSMA staining was either observed in the inner portion (chicken) or throughout the tunica albuginea (Sudani duck and pigeon), or in the outer aspect (rabbit). Distinct alphaSMA reaction was additionally observed in the testicular vasculature. In the epididymis of all birds and rabbit, the alphaSMA was particularly seen in the periductal and interductal myoid cells as well as in the epididymal vasculatures. No alphaSMA specific staining was however detected in the epididymal epithelium, fibrous lamina propria, and luminal spermatozoa of all birds and rabbits. In conclusion, the distribution of laminin and alphaSMA in the testis and epididymis might point out to their roles in the male reproduction.
本研究旨在展示鸡、苏丹鸭、鸽子和兔子的睾丸和附睾中的层粘连蛋白和α平滑肌肌动蛋白（αSMA）。这可能代表了层粘连蛋白首次在鸟类和兔子的雄性生殖器官中存在的证据，因此可以作为进一步研究的里程碑。在鸡、苏丹鸭、鸽子和兔子的睾丸中，层粘连蛋白定位于生精小管的基底膜和周细胞肌样细胞、睾丸囊以及在一定程度上靠近间质细胞的区域。睾丸脉管系统也显示出强烈的层粘连蛋白免疫染色。在鸭的 Sertoli 细胞细胞质中还观察到较弱的层粘连蛋白染色。在附睾中，所有鸟类和兔子的附睾上皮的基底膜均显示出明显的阳性反应。周细胞肌样细胞的基底膜也显示出阳性反应。在管间组织中，鸡、鸭和鸽子的层粘连蛋白免疫染色特别明显。在所有鸟类和兔子的附睾脉管系统中也观察到层粘连蛋白阳性反应。有趣的是，在鸡、鸭和鸽子的近端和远端输出小管的纤毛细胞的顶表面观察到弱至中度的层粘连蛋白染色。αSMA 在所有鸟类和兔子的睾丸囊和周细胞肌样细胞中均可见。在睾丸囊中，αSMA 染色在鸡中观察到内层（鸡）或整个白膜（苏丹鸭和鸽子），或在外部（兔子）。在睾丸脉管系统中还观察到明显的αSMA 反应。在所有鸟类和兔子的附睾中，αSMA 特别见于周细胞和管间细胞以及附睾脉管系统。然而，在所有鸟类和兔子的附睾上皮、纤维固有层和管腔精子中均未检测到αSMA 特异性染色。总之，层粘连蛋白和αSMA 在睾丸和附睾中的分布可能表明它们在男性生殖中的作用。
