Localization of tPA and PAI-1 mRNA in rat testis

摘要

THE physiological function of tPA and PAI-1 in rat and monkey ovulation has been previously documented . In order to elucidate the function of tPA and PAI-1 in spermatogenesis, we have studied expression of tPA and PAI-lmRNA in rat testis by in situ hybridization, and demonstrated that: ( i ) in juvenile testis, tPA mRNA was mainly localized in Sertoli cells and primary spermatocytes and PAI-1 mRNA were mainly localized in primary spermatocytes and Leydig cells; ( ii ) in adult testis, tPA is exclusively expressed in Sertoli cells in a stage-dependent manner, whereas PAI-1 is expressed in all the developing germ cells and Leydig cells, indicating that expression of tPA and PAI-1 in seminiferous tubules may play an important role in spermatogenesis.