Two species of grasshoppers, Calliptamus abbreviatus (Ikonn.) and Shirakiacris shirakii (I. Bol.), were collected randomly in the Siping area of Jilin Province, China. By using immunohistochemical methods and stat...Two species of grasshoppers, Calliptamus abbreviatus (Ikonn.) and Shirakiacris shirakii (I. Bol.), were collected randomly in the Siping area of Jilin Province, China. By using immunohistochemical methods and statistical analysis, we observed and compared the temporal expression of c-kit protein in four representative stages of spermatogenesis of the two grasshoppers, namely: spermatogonia; primary spermatocyte; secondary spermatocyte; and mature sperm. Results showed that there was c-kit positive temporal expression at each stage of spermatogenesis, but there were different positive expression levels: (i) weak positive expression of c-kit protein appeared in spermatogonia and the positive granules were thinner; (ii) strong positive expression of c-kit protein existed in primary spermatocyte and positive granules became biggest among all developmental stages; (iii) c-kit positive expression stayed stronger in secondary spermatocyte while positive granules became thinner; (iv) there was a strong positive expression of c-kit and thinner positive granules in mature sperm, which distributed on head and tail; (v) the biggest c-kit positive granules had been found massing at the end of spermary; and (vi) significant differences of c-kit positive expression existed in spermatogenesis between two species of grasshoppers. The results indicated that c-kit protein may play a crucial role in spermatogenesis and even retain the physiological action of sperms and fertilization in grasshoppers.展开更多
基金We thank Professor Zhemin Zheng for his kind advice and meaningful guidance in our research. This research is supported by funds from National Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province, China (2004C1 15).
文摘Two species of grasshoppers, Calliptamus abbreviatus (Ikonn.) and Shirakiacris shirakii (I. Bol.), were collected randomly in the Siping area of Jilin Province, China. By using immunohistochemical methods and statistical analysis, we observed and compared the temporal expression of c-kit protein in four representative stages of spermatogenesis of the two grasshoppers, namely: spermatogonia; primary spermatocyte; secondary spermatocyte; and mature sperm. Results showed that there was c-kit positive temporal expression at each stage of spermatogenesis, but there were different positive expression levels: (i) weak positive expression of c-kit protein appeared in spermatogonia and the positive granules were thinner; (ii) strong positive expression of c-kit protein existed in primary spermatocyte and positive granules became biggest among all developmental stages; (iii) c-kit positive expression stayed stronger in secondary spermatocyte while positive granules became thinner; (iv) there was a strong positive expression of c-kit and thinner positive granules in mature sperm, which distributed on head and tail; (v) the biggest c-kit positive granules had been found massing at the end of spermary; and (vi) significant differences of c-kit positive expression existed in spermatogenesis between two species of grasshoppers. The results indicated that c-kit protein may play a crucial role in spermatogenesis and even retain the physiological action of sperms and fertilization in grasshoppers.