BMP4 Cooperates with Retinoic Acid to Induce the Expression of Differentiation Markers in Cultured Mouse Spermatogonia

Figure 3

Expression of BMP4 and its receptor subunits in testicular cells. (a) RT-PCR analyses of the expression of BMP4 and its receptors BMPR1A, BMPRII, ActRII, ActRIIB, and actin in isolated spermatocytes (Spc) and round spermatids (Spd), as well as in cultured spermatogonia (Spg) and Sertoli cells (Sertoli). RNA samples without RT but with PCR amplification were used as negative control. (b-c) Western blotting analysis of the expression of BMP4 and its receptors in 4-5-day-old mouse Spg, adult Spc and Spd, and Sertoli cells (b) and quantification of BMP4 protein in these cells (c). The premature and mature forms of BMP4 were labelled. (d-e) Western blotting analysis of BMP4 protein in mouse testis at indicated development stages (d) and quantification (e). (f) Western blotting analyses of secreted BMP4 in the medium from different cell cultures. Adult mouse testicular cells lysate (TC) was used as positive control. The data is presented as means ± SD from at least three independent experiments. Statistically significant differences among groups are indicated by asterisks, or .

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