SET在小鼠睾丸组织中的表达

Expression of SET Protein in Testes of Mice at Different Developmental Stages

目的:检测不同年龄段小鼠睾丸组织中SET蛋白和m RNA的表达,讨论其在精子发生及睾酮生成方面的潜在功能。方法:实验中用1周龄的ICR雄性小鼠作为幼年期组(相当于人类幼年期,n=12),4周龄的ICR雄性小鼠作为性发育期组(相当于人类的青春期前,n=12),12周龄的ICR雄性小鼠作为成年期组(相当于人类成年期,n=12),12个月龄的ICR雄性小鼠作为中老年组(相当于人类的中老年,n=12)。免疫组织化学法观察SET在各年龄段小鼠的定位表达;实时逆转录聚合酶链反应(real-time RT-PCR)和蛋白质印迹(Western Blot)分别检测睾丸中SET m RNA和蛋白水平表达。结果:SET蛋白表达定位于生精小管中的精原细胞、精母细胞,在性发育期组和成年期组的单倍体和四倍体生殖细胞中高表达;成年期组和中老年组的睾丸间质细胞中也有SET的表达;支持细胞中很少量表达。性发育期组SET m RNA与幼年期组相比表达量升高(P=0.020),而成年期组小鼠睾丸中SET蛋白的表达水平最高。结论:SET主要表达于精原细胞和精母细胞,少量表达于支持细胞,表明SET可能与精子发生有关。SET还表达于睾丸间质细胞,与睾酮生成有关。

Objective：To explore the expression of SET protein in the testes of mice at different developmental stages, and to discuss its potential function in regulating spermatogenesis and androgen production. Methods：Forty-eight ICR male mice at different developmental stages（one week as the infancy group; 4 weeks as the prepubertal group; 12 weeks as the adult group; 12 months as the ageing group） were used in this study. Expression of SET protein in testes was observed by immunohistochemistry. Expression levels of SET m RNA and protein were quantificationally analyzed by real time RT-PCR and western blot. Results：SET protein was expressed in spermatogonial cells and spermatocytes cells, the highest level of SET protein expression mainly showed in haploid and tetraploid sperm cells of 4 weeks mice and 12 weeks mice, and Leydig cells of 12 weeks and 1.2 months. Expression of SET m RNA in the prepubertal group was significantly higher than that in the infancy group（P=0.020）, while expression level of SET protein in the adult group was highest.Conclusions：SET protein expressed in spermatogonial cells and spermatocytes cells, and in haploid and tetraploid spermatogenic cells, which suggested that SET protein was involved in the deformation process of spermatocytes and sperm cells meiosis. SET was also expressed in Leydig cells, suggesting the possible role in testicular steroidogenesis.