Immunolocalization of Sperm Protein 17 in Human Testis and Ejaculated Spermatozoa

• Published in: The journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry Vol. 51; no. 9; pp. 1245 - 1248
• Main Authors: Grizzi, Fabio, Chiriva-Internati, Maurizio, Franceschini, Barbara, Hermonat, Paul L, Soda, Giuseppe, Lim, Seah H, Dioguardi, Nicola
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA Histochemical Soc 01-09-2003; SAGE Publications
• Subjects: Antigens, Surface; Carrier Proteins - metabolism; Ejaculation; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Organ Specificity; Spermatozoa - metabolism; Testis - cytology; Testis - metabolism; spermatogenesis; testis; immunohistochemistry; sperm protein 17
• ISSN: 0022-1554; 1551-5044
• DOI: 10.1177/002215540305100916

Sperm protein 17 (Sp17) is a highly conserved mammalian protein whose primary function is still poorly understood. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the human testis reveals the presence of Sp17 in some spermatocytes and abundantly in spermatids. All spermatogonia, Sertoli cells, and Leydig cells appear to be immunonegative for Sp17, whereas some interstitial cells are immunopositive. IHC recognized two distinct populations (immunopositive or not for Sp17) in the ejaculated spermatozoa. Although it will be necessary to clarify why some ejaculated spermatozoa do not contain Sp17, its distribution suggests that this protein may be associated with some phases of germinal cell differentiation.