Expression pattern of HSFY in the mouse testis and epididymis with and without heat stress

Heat shock factors (HSFs) are critical regulators of spermatogenesis. However, heat shock responses, the associated components and the underlying functional mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Here, we characterize the expression pattern of HSFY, a member of the HSF family in the testis and epididymis. Its expression in testis and epididymis was initially identified by western blots. Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that HSFY was confined to the cytoplasm of late spermatocytes and spermatids in adult testes, gonocytes in newborn testes and undifferentiated spermatogonia in 7 days post-parturition testes. In the epididymis, HSFY was predominantly expressed in principal cells. Furthermore, a single transient scrotal heat stress did not change HSFY protein expression in the testes or epididymis, either on the expressional level or in cellular localization. In summary, this study detected the expression pattern of HSFY in the testes and epididymis and demonstrated that its expression was not regulated by transient elevated temperature.