Receptor tyrosine kinase c-Kit, a marker found on interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs), is expressed in Leydig cells, which are testicular interstitial cells. The expression of other ICC markers has not yet been reported. In this study, we investigated the expression of c-Kit and anoctamin 1 (ANO1), another ICC marker, in mouse testes. In addition, the relationship between c-Kit and ANO1 expression and Leydig cell function was investigated. We observed that c-Kit and ANO1 were predominantly expressed in mouse Leydig cells. The mRNA and protein of c-Kit and ANO1 were expressed in TM3, a mouse Leydig cell line. LH induced an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration, membrane depolarization, and testosterone secretion, whereas these signals were inhibited in the presence of c-Kit and ANO1 inhibitors. These results show that c-Kit and ANO1 are expressed in Leydig cells and are involved in testosterone secretion. Our findings suggest that Leydig cells may act as ICCs in testosterone secretion.
목차
ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS Chemicals Animals and testis isolation Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining Immunohistochemistry (IHC) Cell culture Isolation of total RNA and reverse transcriptasepolymerasechain reaction (RT-PCR) Western blot analysis Measurement of intracellular Ca2+ concentration Measurement of plasma membrane potentials Measurement of testosterone concentration Statistical analysis RESULTS Expression pattern of c-Kit and ANO1 in testis Expression of c-Kit and ANO1 in Leydig cells LH-induced increase in testosterone concentration via c-Kit and ANO1 DISCUSSION REFERENCES
키워드
ANO1c-KitLeydig cellsmicetestosterone
저자
Eun-A Ko [ Department of Physiology, Colledge of Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Korea ]
Min Seok Woo [ Department of Physiology, College of Medicine and Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, Korea ]
Dawon Kang [ Department of Physiology, College of Medicine and Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, Korea, Department of Convergence Medical Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, Korea ]
Corresponding Author