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Immunohistochemistry of prostasomes from human semen
Author(s) -
Renneberg Heiner,
Konrad Lutz,
Dammshäuser Irmgard,
Seitz Jürgen,
Aumüller Gerhard
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
the prostate
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.295
H-Index - 123
eISSN - 1097-0045
pISSN - 0270-4137
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0045(19970201)30:2<98::aid-pros5>3.0.co;2-g
Subject(s) - antiserum , epididymis , semen , immunohistochemistry , antibody , seminal vesicle , antigen , vesicle , biology , blot , prostate , kidney , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , pathology , endocrinology , anatomy , membrane , immunology , biochemistry , sperm , medicine , cancer , gene , botany , genetics
BACKGROUND To elucidate the origin of so‐called “prostasomes” in human semen, a polyvalent rabbit antiserum was produced against a highly purified preparation of these secretory particles. METHODS An immunoaffinity selected fraction of the antiserum contained one antibody which in Western blots of prostate extracts showed a 100 kDa band. RESULTS Semithin sections processed for immunohistochemistry by using this immunoselected antibody presented a distinct immunoreaction at the apical plasma membrane of secretory cells. The immunoreaction was not organ specific, but was present also in seminal vesicles, epididymis, salivary glands, and kidney. As spermatozoa present in epididymis and seminal vesicles were likewise immunoreactive, a polytopic origin of the respective antigen was concluded. CONCLUSIONS Prostatsomes therefore should rather be designated as “seminosomes” which more clearly refers to the composite origin of these particles. Prostate 30:98–106, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.