PRKRA Localizes to Nuage Structures and the Ectoplasmic Specialization and Tubulobulbar Complexes in Rat and Mouse Testis
Figure 2
Dual staining of PRKRA (green) and DDX4 (red) in seminiferous tubules from rat. (a–d) Stage I. The cytoplasm of pachytene spermatocytes (P) was diffusely stained for PRKRA but not for DDX4. In step 1 spermatids (S1), large granules were positive for both PRKRA and DDX4 (c) but small granules were positive only for PRKRA (circles). Regions surrounding the heads of step 15 spermatids were stained for PRKRA (arrows). In control section, no PRKRA staining was observed (d). (e–h) Stage V. Small granules in pachytene spermatocytes (P) were stained for both PRKRA and DDX4. Large granules in step 5 spermatids (S5) were positive for both proteins. PRKRA was stained in region adjacent to the acrosome of step 17 spermatids (arrows). No PRKRA staining was noted in control section (h). (i–l) Stage X. Small irregularly-shaped perinuclear granules in pachytene spermatocytes (P) were positive for both PRKRA and DDX4. The cytoplasm of step 10 spermatids (S10) was diffusely stained for PRKRA, whereas DDX4 stained small granules which were closely in contact with the nucleus (k). No PRKRA staining was seen in control (l). (m–p) Diffuse and granular staining of PRKRA was observed in pachytene spermatocytes (P). Many of these granules were also stained for DDX4-positive granules, but some were not (circles). These DDX4-positive granules were located near or attached to the PRKRA-positive granules (circles). PRKRA stained strongly regions surrounding the heads of step 12 spermatids (arrows) and diffusely the cytoplasm. The cytoplasm of zygotene spermatocytes was stained for PRKRA (arrows). In control section, no PRKRA staining was observed. μm.
