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c‐Flip L is expressed in undifferentiated mouse male germ cells
Author(s) -
Giampietri Claudia,
Petrungaro Simonetta,
Coluccia Pierpaolo,
Antonangeli Fabrizio,
Paone Alessio,
Padula Fabrizio,
De Cesaris Paola,
Ziparo Elio,
Filippini Antonio
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2006.10.010
Subject(s) - germ , flip , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , andrology , genetics , medicine , apoptosis
Apoptosis represents a fundamental process during fetal/post‐natal testis development. Therefore pro‐ and anti‐apoptotic proteins are essential to regulate testis physiology. c‐Flip L is a known inhibitor of caspase 8/10 activity; in this study its perinatal expression in mouse male germ cells was investigated. In testis sections and seminiferous tubule whole mount c‐Flip L was found to be expressed in undifferentiated spermatogonia and to co‐localize with germ stem cells markers. In vivo investigations in the vitamin‐A deficient mouse, lacking differentiated germ cells, confirmed c‐Flip L expression in undifferentiated spermatogonia. Further analyses showed Fas expression but no significant caspase 8/10 activity when c‐Flip L was highly expressed. Altogether these data suggest that c‐Flip may control the survival rate of undifferentiated spermatogonia.