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Evidence for a histaminergic system in the human testis
Martin Albrecht1, Monica B Frungieri, Silvia Gonzalez-Calvar
1Anatomisches Institut am Biederstein, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Biedersteiner Strasse 29, 80802 Munich, Germany. M.Albrecht@lrz.uni-muenchen.de
Abstract:
The complete lack of information about mast cells as a source of histamine and potential target cells for histamine in human testes prompted us to investigate these issues in testes of fertile and infertile patients using a combination of laser microdissection, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and immunohistochemistry. We show for the first time the expression of the rate-limiting enzyme in histamine synthesis-histidine decarboxylase-by human testicular mast cells and the expression of the histamine (H) receptors 1 (H1) and 2 (H2) by germinal, interstitial, and peritubular cells in the testes of fertile and infertile patients.