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Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, Vol. 51, 311-318, March 2003, Copyright © 2003, The Histochemical Society, Inc.

ARTICLE

Immunolocalization of Aromatase in Stallion Leydig Cells and Seminiferous Tubules

Herbert Sipahutara, Pascal Sourdainea, Safa Moslemia, Bruno Plainfosséa, and Gilles-Eric Séralinia
a EA2608, Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Biologie Moléculaire Université de Caen, Caen, France

Correspondence to: Safa Moslemi, Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, EA 2608, IBFA, Université de Caen, Esplanade de la Paix, 14032 Caen cedex, France. E-mail: bioch.bio.mol@ibba.unicaen.fr

High levels of plasma estrogens constitute an endocrine peculiarity of the adult stallion. This is mostly due to testicular cytochrome P450 aromatase, the only irreversible enzyme responsible for the bioconversion of androgens into estrogens. To identify more precisely the testicular aromatase synthesis sites in the stallion, testes from nine horses (2–5 years) were obtained during winter or spring. Paraplast-embedded sections were processed using rabbit anti-equine aromatase, followed by biotinylated goat anti-rabbit antibodies, and amplified with a streptavidin–peroxidase complex. Immunoreactivity was detected with diaminobenzidine. Immunofluorescence detection, using fluoroisothiocyanate-conjugated goat anti-rabbit antibodies, was also applied. Specific aromatase immunoreactivity was observed intensely in Leydig cells but also for the first time, to a lesser extent, in the cytoplasm surrounding germ cells at the junction with Sertoli cells. Interestingly, the immunoreactivity in Sertoli cells appears to vary with the spermatogenic stages in the basal compartment (with spermatogonia) as well as in the adluminal one (with spermatids). Relative staining intensity in Leydig and Sertoli cells and testicular microsomal aromatase activity increased with age. The present study in stallions indicates that in addition to Leydig cells, Sertoli cells also appear to participate in estrogen synthesis, and this could play a paracrine role in the regulation of spermatogenesis.

(J Histochem Cytochem 51:311–318, 2003)

Key Words: aromatase, estrogens, immunohistochemistry, Leydig, Sertoli, testis, stallion, equine, horse, spermatogenesis


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