Expression of amphiphysin I in Sertoli cells and its implication in spermatogenesis

Amphiphysin I is a protein concentrated in nerve terminals and involved in the endocytosis of synaptic vesicle membrane. We show here that amphiphysin I is expressed in the rat testis, localized exclusively in the Sertoli cells. In the postnatal testicular development, expression of amphiphysin I was not evident at birth, but became significant at postnatal day 15 (P15), coinciding with the onset of spermatogenesis. The expression level of amphiphysin I increased 10-fold between P15 and P25 to reach the adult level. In adult testes reversibly damaged by ethane dimethane sulphonate administration, expression of amphiphysin I did not change following the damage, whereas the protein was transiently converted into its phosphorylated form. The increase in levels of phosphorylated amphiphysin I was closely associated with the severe histological damage to germ cells. The present findings suggest that amphiphysin I in Sertoli cells is involved in spermatogenesis, probably through endocytic processes.