The Special Expression and Comparison of the c-kit Protein in Spermatogenesis of Three Species of Locusts of Arcypteridae

The aim of this study was to elucidate the expression and regulation of the c.kit protein in spermatogenesis of locusts. Immunohistochemistry and biological statistics were used to investigate the expression of the c-kit protein in four representative phases of spermatogenesis of three dominant species of locusts of Arcypteridae （Orthoptera： Acridoidea）, namely, Omocestus viridulus （Linnaeus）, Euchorthippus unicolor （Ikonn.）, and Euchorthippus vittatus Zheng, and so on, in Siping area of Jilin Province, China. The results revealed the following： （1） There was weak positive expression of the c-kit protein in spermatogonia and the positive granules were thinner; （2） there was a strong positive expression of the c-kit protein in primary spermatocyte and the positive granules became the largest than in all developmental stages; （3） the c-kit protein positive expression became stronger in secondary spermatocyte, while the positive granules became thinner; （4） there was strong positive expression of the c-kit protein and the positive granules were thinner in mature sperm, which were distributed on its head and tail; （5） there were strong positive protein granules massing at the end of spermary; （6） the positive intensity of the c-kit protein in spermatogenesis was significantly different among different species of locusts. The data suggested that the c-kit protein may play a crucial role in spermatogenesis as well as maintain the physiological action of sperms and fertilization, regulate the developmental speed of spermatogenesis, and/or maintain species isolation, etc.