Distribution pattern of F-actin, vimentin and alpha-tubulin in the bovine testis during postnatal development

The distribution of F-actin, vimentin and alpha-tubulin was studied immunohistochemically in bovine seminiferous and straight testicular tubules, rete testis and intertubular tissue during postnatal development. Sites of antigenicity were detected by ABC immunoperoxidase technique and visualized by metal-enhanced deposition of diaminobenzidine. Within the seminiferous epithelium, F-actin appears at 20 weeks and is found in adult Sertoli cells as part of specialized cell contacts. In peritubular cells, F-actin increases gradually from 4 to 30 weeks when the adult concentration is achieved. After 20 weeks, subepithelial fibroblasts of the mediastinum testis start to express F-actin and at 52 weeks, a thick layer of positive myofibroblasts is seen beneath the epithelia of rete testis and straight testicular tubules. Testicular macrophages and light intercalated cells (LIC) are also characteristically decorated following F-actin immunoreaction. Vimentin is localized in perinuclear position in pre-Sertoli cells of 4-20 weeks and in adult Sertoli cells. During the period of transformation from pre-Sertoli to Sertoli cells, the perinuclear vimentin coat is absent. The epithelia of rete testis and straight tubules exhibit a strong vimentin immunoreaction in their basal parts. This specific pattern does not change from 4 weeks to adulthood. Alpha -tubulin is absent in 4-week-old seminiferous tubules. At 8 weeks, the perinuclear area of pre-Sertoli cells reacts positive. The alpha-tubulin content increases in these cells continuously, and from 30 weeks on nearly the entire supranuclear cytoplasm of Sertoli cells is heavily decorated. The epithelial of rete and straight tubules display a growing number of alpha-tubulin-positive cells from 4 to 40 weeks. From then on, nearly all epithelial cells contain alpha-tubulin, particularly in a narrow zone beneath their lateral cell borders.