Stem cell factor (SCF) and c-kit in the ovine fetal testis in normal and nutrition perturbed pregnancie

Aitken, R.

Andrade, L.P.

Doyle, U.

Lea, R.G.

Miller, D.W.

Milne, J.M.

Rae, M.T.

Rhind, S.M.

Wallace, S.

Repositório do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco

12th International Congress of Endocrinology   Lisbon, August 31 - September 4, 2004    Poster Presentation - Series B - Development    P755 - Stem cell factor (SCF) and c-kit in the ovine fetal testis in normal and nutrition perturbed pregnancies.     Lea R.1, Andrade L.2, Doyle U.3, Rae M.4, Rhind S.5, Da Silva-Buttkus P.1, Wallace J.1, Aitken R.1, Miller D.3    1Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, 2Escola Superior Agrária Castelo Branco, UD Zootecnia, Castelo Branco, 3University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences, Aberdeen, 4University of Edinburgh, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Edinburgh, 5Macaulay Institute, Aberdeen    Background of Study: Underfeeding adult ewes to day 110 of pregnancy restricts early/mid gestation fetal nutrient supply. Overfeeding adolescent ewes with singleton pregnancies restricts placental growth and reduces fetal nutrient supply later in gestation. The underfeeding regime reduces testicular steroidogenesis. In the overfeeding regime, lamb birth weight is reduced and male offspring have reduced testicular volume and testosterone secretion. The SCF/c-kit system regulates primordial germ cell migration and spermatogenesis and may underlie these effects.  Objectives: To investigate the expression of testicular SCF and c-kit in normal and nutritionally perturbed ovine pregnancies. Methods: Ovine fetal testes were collected from (a) normal adult ewes at days 30 (n=6), 40 (n=6), 50 (n=4), 70 (n=6) and 140 (n=7) of gestation, (b) adolescent ewes at day 100 of gestation that were offered a low (n=7) or high (n=9) intake diet throughout, the latter predicted to restrict fetal growth and (c) adult pregnant ewes fed 50% or 100% (control) of their nutritional requirements from days 0-110 (n=8 per group) Testes were Bouin’s fixed and examined for SCF and c-kit by immunohistochemistry.  Results: SCF was predominant in the testis at day 30 of gestation and in the vasculature at later gestational stages. C-kit was detected throughout gestation and was predominant in germ and interstitial cells from day 70 onwards. Levels of c-kit showed a significant mid-gestation peak (days 50, 70) (P<0.05). Maternal nutrition had no effect on c-kit or SCF expression or cellular localisation. Conclusions: c-kit and SCF are important for testicular development but do not appear to be sensitive to altered maternal nutrition and / or fetal nutrient supply.  

Stem cell factor (SCF) and c-kit in the ovine fetal testis in normal and nutrition perturbed pregnancies

Repositório Científico do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco

12th International Congress of Endocrinology 
  
Lisbon, August 31 - September 4, 2004  
 
 
Poster Presentation - Series B - Development 
   
P755 - Stem cell factor (SCF) and c-kit in the ovine fetal testis in normal and nutrition 
perturbed pregnancies.  
   
Lea R.
1
, Andrade L.
2
, Doyle U.
3
, Rae M.
4
, Rhind S.
5
, Da Silva-Buttkus P.
1
, Wallace J.
1
, 
Aitken R.
1
, Miller D.
3
 
   
1
Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, 
2
Escola Superior Agrária Castelo Branco, UD Zootecnia, 
Castelo Branco, 
3
University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences, Aberdeen, 
4
University 
of Edinburgh, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Edinburgh, 
5
Macaulay Institute, Aberdeen 
   
Background of Study: Underfeeding adult ewes to day 110 of pregnancy restricts early/mid 
gestation fetal nutrient supply. Overfeeding adolescent ewes with singleton pregnancies 
restricts placental growth and reduces fetal nutrient supply later in gestation. The underfeeding 
regime reduces testicular steroidogenesis. In the overfeeding regime, lamb birth weight is 
reduced and male offspring have reduced testicular volume and testosterone secretion. The 
SCF/c-kit system regulates primordial germ cell migration and spermatogenesis and may 
underlie these effects.  
Objectives: To investigate the expression of testicular SCF and c-kit in normal and nutritionally 
perturbed ovine pregnancies. 
Methods: Ovine fetal testes were collected from (a) normal adult ewes at days 30 (n=6), 40 
(n=6), 50 (n=4), 70 (n=6) and 140 (n=7) of gestation, (b) adolescent ewes at day 100 of 
gestation that were offered a low (n=7) or high (n=9) intake diet throughout, the latter predicted 
to restrict fetal growth and (c) adult pregnant ewes fed 50% or 100% (control) of their nutritional 
requirements from days 0-110 (n=8 per group) Testes were Bouin’s fixed and examined for SCF 
and c-kit by immunohistochemistry.  
Results: SCF was predominant in the testis at day 30 of gestation and in the vasculature at 
later gestational stages. C-kit was detected throughout gestation and was predominant in germ 
and interstitial cells from day 70 onwards. Levels of c-kit showed a significant mid-gestation 
peak (days 50, 70) (P<0.05). Maternal nutrition had no effect on c-kit or SCF expression or 
cellular localisation. 
Conclusions: c-kit and SCF are important for testicular development but do not appear to be 
sensitive to altered maternal nutrition and / or fetal nutrient supply. 
 


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Stem cell factor (SCF) and c-kit in the ovine fetal testis in normal and nutrition perturbed pregnancies

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Repositório do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco

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