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Fig. 1 | Cell Communication and Signaling

Fig. 1

From: Androgen promotes differentiation of PLZF+ spermatogonia pool via indirect regulatory pattern

Fig. 1

Expression patterns of PLZF and AR during testis development. PLZF staining was exclusively detected in spermatogonia localized in basal membranes of 5 dpp (a), 10 dpp (b), 20 dpp (c) and 42 dpp (d) testes (inset in D, a representive of PLZF+ Apr spermatogonia). AR staining in 5 dpp (e), 10 dpp (f), 20 dpp (g) and 42 dpp (h) testes was specifically detected in Sertoli cells. Weak AR staining was observed in pre-spermatogonia (red arrowheads) in the testicular lumen of 2 dpp testis, but not in Sertoli cells (i). In 3 dpp testis (j), pre-spermatogonia migrated to basement membranes and formed unique structures with surrounding Sertoli cells (red arrows in (j)), and identical structures were also found in 4 dpp and 5 dpp testes, red arrows in (e) and (k)), and AR staining was detected in Sertoli cells but not in germ cells. k AR staining in 4 dpp testis, l a representive of niche in 5 dpp testis, in which SPCs were embraced by AR+ Sertoli cells (red frame). AR/PLZF dual IF exhibited no overlap of AR signals and PLZF signals in 4 dpp testis ((m). PLZF, (n). AR, (o). DAPI, (p). merge). From neonatal to adult stages, ratio of PLZF+ cells in seminiferous tubules decreased (q) but number of PLZF+ cells kept steady (r). Data represent means ± SD (**p < 0.01), n = 16, 4 of each group, bar = 20 μM

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