Immunohistochemical Study of Expression of Sohlh1 and Sohlh2 in Normal Adult Human Tissues.

Xiaoli Zhang,Zhongxue Su,Yuji Guo,Wenfang Zhang,Yuecun Zhang,Fuwu Wang,Jing Hao,Ruihua Liu,Xinyu Liu,Chuangang Li,Wei Shen

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0137431

Abstract

The expression pattern of Sohlh1 (spermatogenesis and oogenesis specific basic helix-loop-helix 1) and Sohlh2 in mice has been reported in previous studies. Sohlh1 and Sohlh2 are specifically expressed in spermatogonia, prespermatogonia in male mice and oocytes of primordial and primary follicles in female mice. In this report, we studied the expression pattern of Sohlh1 and Sohlh2 in human adult tissues. Immunohistochemical staining of Sohlh1 and Sohlh2 was performed in 5 samples of normal ovaries and testes, respectively. The results revealed that Sohlh genes are not only expressed in oocytes and spermatogonia, but also in granular cells, theca cells, Sertoli cells and Leydig cells, and in smooth muscles of blood vessel walls. To further investigate the expression of Sohlh genes in other adult human tissues, we collected representative normal adult tissues developed from three embryonic germ layers. Compared with the expression in mice, Sohlhs exhibited a much more extensive expression pattern in human tissues. Sohlhs were detected in testis, ovary and epithelia developed from embryonic endoderm, ectoderm and tissues developed from embryonic mesoderm. Sohlh signals were found in spermatogonia, Sertoli cells and also Leydig cells in testis, while in ovary, the expression was mainly in oocytes of primordial and primary follicles, granular cells and theca cells of secondary follicles. Compared with Sohlh2, the expression of Sohlh1 was stronger and more extensive. Our study explored the expression of Sohlh genes in human tissues and might provide insights for functional studies of Sohlh genes.

Highlights

Sohlh1 and Sohlh2 are transcription factors and play a pivotal role in the transition of germ cells? from primordial to primary follicles and in the differentiation of spermatogonia in mice [1,2,3]
Sohlh1 or Sohlh2 null mice were sterile due to the defect in the differentiation of spermatogonia and oocytes. These findings indicate that Sohlhs play crucial roles in spermatogenesis and oogenesis [2, 5, 6]
We found that the expression pattern of Sohlh1 and Sohlh2 in ovary and testis is very similar, but the staining of Sohlh1 is stronger and more extensive

Summary

Introduction

Sohlh (spermatogenesis and oogenesis helix-loop-helix 1) and Sohlh are transcription factors and play a pivotal role in the transition of germ cells? from primordial to primary follicles and in the differentiation of spermatogonia in mice [1,2,3]. Sohlh (spermatogenesis and oogenesis helix-loop-helix 1) and Sohlh are transcription factors and play a pivotal role in the transition of germ cells? From primordial to primary follicles and in the differentiation of spermatogonia in mice [1,2,3]. Later it was found that both genes are expressed in germ cell clusters, primordial and early primary oocytes in females and in prespermatogonia and spermatogonia in males. Sohlh or Sohlh null mice were sterile due to the defect in the differentiation of spermatogonia and oocytes. These findings indicate that Sohlhs play crucial roles in spermatogenesis and oogenesis [2, 5, 6]

Methods

Results

Conclusion