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Immunohistochemical analysis of cAMP response element-binding protein in mouse testis during postnatal development and spermatogenesis

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Abstract

Basal activity and cellular localization of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) was examined in mouse testis during postnatal development and spermatogenesis. Testes of ICR mice sampled on postnatal day (PND) 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, and 49 were analyzed using Western blotting. Basal CREB activity was significantly higher in early phase (PND 3–7) develo** testes than in intermediate- and late-phase develo** (PND 14–42) and adult testes (PND 49). Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated the change of CREB phosphorylation in various testicular cell types during postnatal development. In particular, CREB phosphorylation in seminiferous tubules of the adult testis varied according to the spermatogenic cycle, while phosphorylation was evident in spermatogonia during all stages. Phosphorylation was moderate in pachytene spermatocytes of stages I–III and intense in round and elongate spermatids of spermiogenesis in stages XII–IX. These results suggest that CREB plays an important role in cell proliferation and differentiation in the early phase of postnatal development and spermatogenesis of mouse testis.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Grant of the Korean Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (The Regional Core Research Program/Biohousing Research Institute). This work was supported by the Biohousing Research Center.

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Correspondence to Taekyun Shin or Changjong Moon.

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Kim, JS., Song, MS., Seo, HS. et al. Immunohistochemical analysis of cAMP response element-binding protein in mouse testis during postnatal development and spermatogenesis. Histochem Cell Biol 131, 501–507 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-009-0554-8

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