Fig. 1

Identification of multiple microtubule-associated proteins (Maps) in rat testes and the distribution of Map1a in Sertoli cells and in rat testes. A RT-PCR was performed using corresponding primer pairs (Table 2) to examine the presence of multiple MAPs in adult rat testes versus Sertoli cells (SC) and germ cells (GC), with the brain (B) serving as a positive control. B qPCR was used to validate some data of RT-PCR as noted in (A). C The specificity of the anti-Map1a antibody (Table 1) was noted by IB using lysates of the corresponding cells or testis, with ß-actin serving as the protein loading control used for IF and IHC shown in (D) and (E), respectively. D IF (immunofluorescence analysis) illustrating the distribution of microtubules (visualized by α-tubulin staining, red fluorescence) and Map1a (green fluorescence) across the Sertoli cell cytoplasm (cell nuclei visualized by DAPI), as well as their co-localization. Scale bar, 40 µm; 15 µm in the enlarged image; which applies to corresponding images in this panel. E A study by IHC (immunohistochemistry) to illustrate changes in spatiotemporal and stage-specific expression of Map1a across the seminiferous epithelium during the epithelial cycle of spermatogenesis. Negative control (-ve Ctrl) is also noted on the left panel where the primary antibody was substituted with the IgG of the same animal species used to obtain the anti-Map1a antibody. Scale bar, 50 µm, applies to other images in this panel