EXPRESSION OF SMAD 2 AND SMAD 4 PROTEINS IN THE ADULT RAT TESTIS / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the localization of Smad 2 and Smad 4 proteins, which are intracellular signaling molecules of transforming growth factor ? family in adult rat testis. Method Immunohistochemical ABC method with glucose oxidase DAB nickel enhancement technique was used in the present study. Results Smad 2 immunoreactivity was mainly located in the spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids, Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubule and Leydig cells in the interstitial tissue. The reactive substance distributes in cytoplasm with negative nuclei. While Smad 4 is mainly expressed in cytoplasm of Leydig cells, and Sertoli cells is weak stained. Conclusion Our findings of Smad 2 expression in spermatogenic cells and Smad 4 expression in Leydig cells provide direct evidence for the molecular mechanism of TGF ? action during spermatogenesis.