Munsie M, Schlatt S, deKretser D M, Loveland K L
Institute of Reproduction and Development, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Mol Reprod Dev. 1997 May;47(1):19-25. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2795(199705)47:1<19::AID-MRD3>3.0.CO;2-T.
The expression of stem cell factor (SCF) mRNA and protein was examined in the postnatal rat testis. Northern blot analysis of total RNA from 1-4 days postpartum (dpp) testes showed none or barely detectable levels of the approximately 6.5 kb SCF transcript. At 5 dpp, there was a striking elevation in this mRNA, a timing that coincides with the onset of spermatogonial proliferation. Immunohistochemical staining of testes showed that SCF protein was readily detected within Sertoli cells at 1-7 dpp and in the adult. Immunoreactive material was also detected within gonocytes and within Leydig cells at 1-7 dpp and in Leydig cells in the adult. Given the intense staining of Leydig cells by two different antibodies to SCF, the potential synthesis of SCF mRNA by these cells was investigated. Northern blot and reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated that adult Leydig cells do not synthesize SCF mRNA, and Sertoli cells do. The significance of these findings is discussed in the context of germ cell-Sertoli cell interactions and Leydig cell function.
对出生后大鼠睾丸中干细胞因子（SCF）mRNA和蛋白的表达进行了检测。对产后1 - 4天（dpp）睾丸的总RNA进行Northern印迹分析，结果显示几乎没有或仅能检测到极低水平的约6.5 kb SCF转录本。在5 dpp时，该mRNA显著升高，这一时期与精原细胞增殖的开始时间相吻合。对睾丸进行免疫组织化学染色显示，在1 - 7 dpp以及成年期，支持细胞内均可轻易检测到SCF蛋白。在1 - 7 dpp时，生殖细胞和睾丸间质细胞内也可检测到免疫反应性物质，成年期睾丸间质细胞内同样可检测到。鉴于用两种不同的抗SCF抗体对睾丸间质细胞进行染色时染色强烈，因此对这些细胞合成SCF mRNA的可能性进行了研究。Northern印迹和逆转录/聚合酶链反应分析表明，成年睾丸间质细胞不合成SCF mRNA，而支持细胞可以合成。在生殖细胞 - 支持细胞相互作用和睾丸间质细胞功能的背景下对这些发现的意义进行了讨论。
