Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1-2
pubmed:dateCreated
2000-11-7
pubmed:abstractText
A large part of germ cells die apoptotically during testicular development in rodents. In the present study, a wave of germ cell apoptosis was observed between days 10 and 30 of postnatal life by in situ 3'-end labeling and DNA fragmentation analysis. To explore the potential involvement of Bcl-2 family members in this process, the expression and localization of some Bcl-2 family proteins (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bcl-w, Bak, Bax, and Bad) and p53 were analyzed during testicular development in the rat by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The dynamic changes in the expression profiles of Bcl-2 family proteins are consistent with a model in which germ cells are primed for apoptosis during the first cycle of spermatogenesis by de novo expression of the death effectors Bax and Bad in a p53-dependent manner and these proteins are prevented from triggering further apoptosis after the first spermatogenic cycle has been set up by anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins Bcl-xL and Bcl-w. To examine whether the pro-survival effect of stem cell factor (SCF) on germ cells in vitro is mediated by Bcl-2 family proteins, the correlation between the pro-survival effect of SCF on germ cells and the expression of the above-mentioned apoptosis-related gene products in the seminiferous tubules at stage XII of the epithelial cycle were also investigated using a tubular culture system. The data suggest that SCF supports germ cell survival during spermatogenesis by up-regulating pro-survival Bcl-2 family proteins, Bcl-w and Bcl-xL, and down-regulating pro-apoptosis Bcl-2 family proteins, e.g. Bax.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jul
pubmed:issn
0303-7207
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
25
pubmed:volume
165
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
115-29
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2000
pubmed:articleTitle
Involvement of Bcl-2 family proteins in germ cell apoptosis during testicular development in the rat and pro-survival effect of stem cell factor on germ cells in vitro.
pubmed:affiliation
Departments of Physiology and Pediatrics, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, FIN-20520, Turku, Finland.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, In Vitro, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't