Immunolocalization of inhibin/activin subunits in the shiba goat fetal, neonatal, and adult testes

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the cellular immunolocalization of inhibin α and inhibin/activin (βA and βB) subunits in the fetal, neonatal and adult testes of Shiba goats. The testes were obtained from a fetus at 90 days, a neonate at 15 days, and two adult Shiba goats (both of 3 years old). The sections of testes were immunostained by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method (ABC) using polyclonal antisera raised against porcine inhibin α, inhibin/activin βA, and inhibin/activin βB. Inhibin α and inhibin/activin (βA and βB) subunits were expressed in Leydig cells, but not in the Sertoli cells of the fetus with a weak immunostaining. An increase in the number of positive cells and a more intense immunohistochemical signal for inhibin α and inhibin/activin (βA and βB) subunits were observed in the Leydig cells of neonatal testes. Moreover, inhibin α, βA, and βB subunits were expressed in the Sertoli cells and Leydig cells of adult testes, respectively. These results suggest that Shiba goats testes have the ability to synthesize inhibins in the fetus, neonate, and adult, and the cellular localization of inhibin/activin subunits showed age-related changes in fetal, neonatal, and adult testes of Shiba goats.