Immunoexpression of Tyro 3 Family Receptors, Tyro 3, Axl and Mer, and their Ligand Gas6 in Postnatal Developing Mouse Testis
Huizhen Wang 1, Yongmei Chen 1, Yehua Ge 1, Pengpeng Ma 1, Quanhong Ma 1, Jing Ma 1, Haikun Wang 1, Shepu Xue 1 and Daishu Han 1*
1 Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: daishu{at}public.bta.net.cn.
Submitted on January 29, 2005
Accepted on 4 May 2005
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Abstract |
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Tyro 3 family receptors contain 3 members, Tyro 3, Axl and Mer, which are essential regulators of mammalian spermatogenesis. However, their exact expression patterns in testis are unclear. In this study, we examined the localizations of Tyro 3, Axl, Mer and their ligand Gas6 in postnatal mouse testes by immunohistochemistry. All three members and their ligand were continuously expressed in different testicular cells during postnatal development. Tyro 3 was expressed only in Sertoli cells with a varied distribution during testis development. At day 3 postnatal, Tyro 3 was distributed in overall cytoplasmic membrane and cytoplasm of Sertoli cells. From day 14 to day 35 postnatal, Tyro 3 appeared on Sertoli cell processes toward adluminal compartment of seminiferous tubules. A stage-dependent Tyro 3 immunoexpression in Sertoli cells was shown by adulthood testis at day 56 postnatal with higher expression at stages I-VII and lower level at stages IX-XII. Axl showed a similar expression pattern to Tyro 3, except for some immunopositive Leydig cells detected in mature testis. By contraries, immunostaining of Mer was detected mainly in primitive spermatogonia and Leydig cells, while a relative weak signal was found in Sertoli cells. Gas6 was strongly expressed in Leydig cells, and a relative weak staining signal was seen in primitive spermatogonia and Sertoli cells. These immunoexpression patterns of Tyro 3 family receptors and ligand in testis provide a basis to further study their functions and mechanisms in regulating mammalian spermatogenesis.
Key Words:
Tyro 3 family receptors, Gas6, immunohistochemistry, Sertoli cell, Leydig cell, testis, mouse
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