ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Testis-expressed sequence 101 (TEX101) was found to be highly expressed in testis and involved in acrosome reaction in previous studies. Recently, the metastasis suppressor function of TEX101 in cancer was disclosed, but the comprehensive investigation of its expression has rarely been reported. In this study, the expression features of TEX101 in normal human organs and seminoma were systematically analyzed. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry demonstrated intense staining of TEX101 in human testis tissues; however, its expression in 27 other types of normal human organs, including the ovary, was negligible. Higher expression of TEX101 was observed in the spermatocytes and spermatids of the testis, but relatively lower staining was detected in spermatogonia. Western blotting showed a single TEX101 band of 38 kDa in human testis, but it did not correspond to the predicted molecular weight of its mature form at 21 KDa. Furthermore, we examined seminoma tissues by immunohistochemistry and found that none of the 36 samples expressed TEX101. CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirmed TEX101 to be a testis protein that could be related to the maturation process of male germ cells. The lack of TEX101 in seminoma indicated its potential role in tumor progression. This characteristic expression of TEX101 could provide a valuable reference for understanding its biological functions.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Seminiferous Epithelium/metabolism , Testicular Neoplasms/metabolism , Seminoma/metabolism , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Organ Specificity/physiology , Ovary/metabolism , Seminiferous Epithelium/pathology , Sperm Maturation/physiology , Spermatozoa/growth & development , Testicular Neoplasms/pathology , Testis/metabolism , Testis/pathology , Immunohistochemistry , Cell Differentiation , Blotting, Western , Seminoma/pathology , Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism , Epithelium/metabolism , Lymphoid Tissue/metabolism , Nerve Tissue/metabolismABSTRACT
The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma co-activator 1 alpha (PGC-1 ), a signal-sensing transcriptional co-activator in association with many nuclear receptors regulates various genes that control energy balance in animals. In this study, the effect of long-term caloric restriction (CR) (alternate days of fasting for 3 months) on the expression of PGC-1 protein in various tissues was investigated in mice. Western blot analyses showed positive immunoreactive PGC-1 (~92 kDa) signal from various tissues. Heart, kidney and skeletal muscles expressed significant levels of PGC-1 , while a comparatively lower level was detected in the liver, small intestine and brain. The expression of PGC-1 was the highest and lowest in the heart and liver respectively. CR mice exhibited a significant increase in PGC-1a level in the heart (5.13-fold), kidney (3.57-fold), skeletal muscle (3.02-fold), liver (2.60-fold), small intestine (2.45-fold) and brain (2.05-fold), compared to normal (ad libitum) fed. The elevation in PGC-1 level, especially in highly oxidative tissues such as heart, kidney and skeletal muscle of CR mice might synergistically up-regulate genes that require PGC-1 co-activation. Taken together, the up-regulation of PGC-1 expression might potentially support optimal energy metabolism and biochemical adaptation, necessary for maintaining energy homeostasis during long-term CR.
Subject(s)
Animals , Caloric Restriction/methods , Eating/physiology , Male , Metabolic Clearance Rate , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Organ Specificity/physiology , Tissue Distribution , Trans-Activators/metabolism , Up-Regulation/physiologyABSTRACT
The possible peripheral actions of isatin were studied in vivo and in vitro preparations in different experimental models, using conventional techniques. The results showed spasmogenic responses of isatin on guinea pig, rat and rabbit ileum and fundus of rat stomach. Histamine induced broncho-constriction could be antagonised by isatin. Isatin had cardioinhibitory effect on isolated frog heart and had hypotensive and respiratory depressant activities in dog. Isatin had antidiuretic effect. It was devoid of any effect on inflammation and gastric activities. The present results suggest a possible involvement of heterogenic 5-HT3 receptors in gastrointestinal smooth muscle.
Subject(s)
Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Cardiovascular System/drug effects , Dogs , Female , Guinea Pigs , Isatin/pharmacology , Kidney/drug effects , Male , Mice , Muscle, Smooth/drug effects , Organ Specificity/physiology , Ranidae , Rats , Stomach/drug effectsABSTRACT
Soluble chromatin was prepared from rat testes after a brief micrococcal nuclease digestion. After adsorption onto hydroxylapatite at low ionic strength, the histone H1 subtypes were eluted with a shallow salt gradient of 0.3 M NaCl to 0.7 M NaCl. Histone H1t was eluted at 0.4 M NaCl, while histones H1a and H1c were eluted at 0.43 M NaCl and 0.45 M respectively. The extreme divergence of the amino acid sequence of the C-terminal half of histone H1t, the major DNA binding domain of histone H1, from that of the somatic consensus sequence may contribute to the weaker interaction of histone H1t with the rat testis chromatin. Further, histone H1t was not phosphorylated in vivo in contrast to histone H1a and H1c, as is evident from the observation that histone H1t lacks the SPKK motif recognized by the CDC-2kinase or the RR/KXS motif recognized by protein kinase A.