Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a programmed developmental process characterized by the inactivation of certain genes and the activation of other, testis-specific genes. Synthesis of unique gene products such as LDH-C4 and cytochrome ct occurs only at a precise stage of germ cell formation. The developmental sequences of gene activation for these proteins was observed by immunohistochemical procedures. LDH-C4 is first detectable during mid-pachytene of the primary spermatocyte. The C subunits appear to be uniformly distributed throughout the cytoplasm of the spermatocyte. The mid-pachytene stage also marks the first appearance of cytochrome ct. The association of this electron transport protein with spermatocyte mitochondria is reflected in a granular fluorescence of specific antibody-treated sections of testis. Neither the C subunit of LDH, nor cytochrome ct appear in leptotene or early pachytene primary spermatocytes. These analyses indicate that there is stage-specific protein synthesis in the primary spermatocyte which is characterized by differential activation of the LDH-C locus and of the gene coding for cytochrome ct.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 37-41 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Differentiation |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | 1-3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1977 |
Funding
Acknowledgements: Support was received from the following sources: Grants HD-05863-06, GM-19121, AI-12001, and HL-11 119-15 from the National Insitutes of Health; Contract # 73085 from the World Health Organization. We thank Christine Ransdell for superb technical assistance, and Anne Reynolds and Pauline Bentley for manuscript preparation.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology