Localization of AFP in EC testicular cells and microinjection of human AFP into the seminiferous tubules of normal mice.

<p>Immunohistochemical staining of EC 14 Ds testis (A). Conventional HE stained paraffin sections of EC 14 Ds testis (B). Basal aspect of the seminiferous epithelium of EC 14 Ds mice (C). Microinjection of AFP into the seminiferous tubules through the efferent ducts of normal 49 Ds male mice (D). Fixed testes five days after the microinjection (E). AFP microinjected testis (F). BSA microinjected testis (G). White arrows indicate AFP positive cells (A), and black arrows indicate spermatocytes (B). Scale bar, 50 µm. In the pachytene stage of the EC 14 Ds mice spermatocytes, synaptonemal complexes were clearly seen (C, arrows). Scale bar, 2 µm. SPC, spermatocyte; S, Sertoli cells; L, lumen of seminiferous tubule, Li, lipid droplet. Blue staining of the seminiferous tubules right under the tunica albuginea reflects the success of the microinjection (D). Scale bar, 1 mm. Five days after the microinjection, fixed testes containing faint blue staining of the seminiferous tubles right under the tunica albuginea (E). Scale bar, 1 mm. Semithin sections were stained with 1% toluidine blue dye (F and G). No evidence of spermiogenesis is observed in the shrunken seminiferous tubule of AFP microinjected testis (asterisk in F), but normal appearing spermatogenesis is observed in the BSA microinjected testis (G). Scale bar, 50 µm. TA, tunica albuginea.