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Developmental appearance of the Ca2+-binding proteins parvalbumin, calbindin D-28K, S-100 proteins and calmodulin during testicular development in the rat

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Summary

Calcium and intracellular Ca2+-binding proteins are possibly involved in hormone production and spermatogenesis in rat testis. Parvalbumin, calbindin D-28K, S-100 proteins and calmodulin were localized in the Leydig cells, which are sites of testosterone synthesis. Only the appearance of parvalbumin-immunoreactivity is closely correlated to testosterone production during development of the testes. Calbindin D-28K-immunoreactivity persisted in foetal-type Leydig cells and in adult-type Leydig cells at all stages of development. S-100-immunoreactivity was low during all foetal stages, absent between birth and puberty, and increased thereafter. Calmodulin staining is most prominent in the cytoplasm of developing spermatocytes and of maturing spermatids. All four proteins co-exist in the seminiferous tubules. The distinct localization and developmental appearance of these proteins suggests different regulatory roles in Leydig cell function and spermatogenesis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, University of Zürich-Irchel, Zürich, Schwitzerland

    Urs Kägi &  Claus W. Heizmann

  2. MRC Group in Molecular Endocrinology, Laval University Medical Center, Québec, Canada

    James G. Chafouleas

  3. Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside, California, USA

    Anthony W. Norman

Authors
  1. Urs Kägi
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  2. James G. Chafouleas
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  3. Anthony W. Norman
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  4. Claus W. Heizmann
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Kägi, U., Chafouleas, J.G., Norman, A.W. et al. Developmental appearance of the Ca2+-binding proteins parvalbumin, calbindin D-28K, S-100 proteins and calmodulin during testicular development in the rat. Cell Tissue Res. 252, 359–365 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00214378

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