Aim： To study the expression pattern of the retinoic acid metabolizing enzymes RALDH2 and CYP26bl during mouse postnatal testis development at both mRNA and protein levels. Methods： Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were performed to determine the relative quantity of RALDH2 and CYP26bl at both mRNA and protein levels at postnatal day 1, 5, 10, 20, and in adult mice （70 days testes）. Testicular localization of RALDH2 and CYP26b 1 during mouse postnatal development was examined using immunohistochemistry assay. Results： Aldhla2 transcripts and its protein RALDH2 began to increase at postnatal day 10, and remained at a high level through postnatal day 20 to adulthood. Cyp2661 transcripts and CYP26bl protein did not change significantly during mouse postnatal testis development. RALDH2 was undetectable in the postnatal 1, 5 and 10 day testes using immunohis- tochemistry assay. At postnatal day 20 it was detected in pachytene spermatocytes. Robust expression of RALDH2 was restricted in round spermatids in the adult mouse testis. In the developing and adult testis, CYP26bl protein was confined to the peritubular myoepithelial cells. Conclusion： Our results indicate that following birth, the level of retinoic acid in the seminiferous tubules might begin to increase at postnatal day 10, and maintain a high level through postnatal day 20 to adulthood.
Aim： To investigate the spatial and temporal expression of the cystatin-related epididymal spermatogenic （Cres） gene in mouse testis and epididymis during postnatal development. Methods： The QuantiGene assay and indirect immunofluorescence technique were used to examine the Cres mRNA and Cres protein level in mouse testis and epididymis on postnatal days 14, 20, 22, 28, 35, 49, 70 and 420. Results： （1） In both the testis and epididymis, Cres mRNA was fast detected on day 20, then it increased gradually from day 20 to day 70, and the high expression level maintained till day 420. （2） In the testis, the Cres protein was exclusively localized to the elongating spermatids and was first detected on day 22. The number of Cres-positive spermatids increased progressively till day 49. From day 49 to day 420, the number of Cres-positive cells was almost stable. （3） The Cres protein was first detected on day 20 in the proximal caput epididymal epithelium. By day 35, the expression level of the Cres protein increased dramatically and the high level was maintained till day 420. Moreover, the luminal fluid of the midcaput epididymis was also stained Cres-positive from day 35 on. No Cres-positive staining was observed in distal caput, corpus and cauda epididymis throughout. Conclusion： The Cres gene displays a specific age-dependent expression pattern in mouse testis and epididymis on both the mRNA and protein level.
Qing YuanQiang-Su GuoGail A. CornwallChen XuYi-Fei Wang
