A role for acidophilic granulocytes in the testis of the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L., Teleostei)

In mammals, a complex interaction between the immune and the reproductive systems has been described, in which testicular immune cells produce cytokines and growth factors which modulate gonad functions, while specific gonad cells influence the immune response in this organ. In this study we describ...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Chaves-Pozo, Elena, Pelegrín, Pablo, Mulero, Victoriano, Meseguer, José, García-Ayala, Alfonsa
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2003
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/313717
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/313717
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Acuicultura
Centro Oceanográfico de Murcia
Descripción
Sumario:In mammals, a complex interaction between the immune and the reproductive systems has been described, in which testicular immune cells produce cytokines and growth factors which modulate gonad functions, while specific gonad cells influence the immune response in this organ. In this study we describe the presence of acidophilic granulocytes in the testis of the hermaphrodite teleost fish gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) by using a specific monoclonal antibody. During the post-spawning stage of the testis, this cell type appears in the germinal compart- ment, accumulates interleukin (IL)-1 and does not seem to be involved in the phagocytosis of degenerating cells. Moreover, in vitro, 11-ketotestosterone and 17 -oestradiol, the principal fish sexual steroids, regulate the respiratory burst activity of acidophilic granulocytes obtained from the head-kidney (the bone marrow equivalent in fish) and the intracellular accumulation of IL-1 by these cells. It is likely, therefore, that IL-1 produced by testicular acido- philic granulocytes regulates important functions of the testis in fish.