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Expression of patched‐1 and smoothened in testicular meiotic and post‐meiotic cells
Author(s) -
Morales Carlos R.,
Fox Andrew,
ElAlfy Mohamed,
Ni Xiaoyan,
Argraves W. Scott
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.20733
Subject(s) - smoothened , patched , meiosis , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , genetics , gene , hedgehog signaling pathway , signal transduction
Desert hedgehog (Dhh) signaling plays an essential role in the normal development of the testis and in the process of spermatogenesis. Little is known about the involvement in spermatogenesis of the prototypic member of the family, Ptc1, which acts to suppress hedgehog signaling through Smoothened (Smo). Here, we have examined the expression of Ptc1, Smo, and Dhh in mouse and rat seminiferous epithelium. Our findings demonstrate that Ptc1 and Smo are expressed by primary spermatocytes and by round and condensing spermatids whereas Dhh is expressed by Sertoli cells. The findings suggest that Sertoli cells coordinate Dhh‐dependent spermatogenesis events via Ptc1 and Smo prior to the first meiotic division and in postmeiotic (haploid) cells, particularly during the first half of spermiogenesis. Microsc. Res. Tech. 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.