Figure 8. (A) In situ localization of the ssp411 mRNA in the adult rat testis. Paraffin sections obtained from 60-day-old rat testes were hybridized with digoxigenin-labeled cRNA probe (a-c) or with a sense probe (d). No signal was detected after hybridization with the sense probe (d). Hybridization with the antisense probe demonstrated strong signals in the seminiferous epithelium in a stage-specific manner (a–b). At higher magnification (c), ssp411 mRNA was found in round spermatids (arrow) at stages VII–VIII, located in the inner half-layer of the seminiferous epithelium (tubule a) and in early elongated spermatids (arrowhead) at stages IX–XI, having cytoplasmic protrusions into the tubular lumen (tubule b). Ten testicular sections were analyzed for each group of stages. Magnification, 40x in a, 100x in b and d, and 200x in c. (B) Localization of SSP411 protein in adult rat testes by immunohistochemistry. IgG-enriched antibody Ab1065 (1:200 dilution) (a, c–e) and serum preabsorbed with synthetic peptide (b, f) were applied onto testicular sections for the localization of the SSP411 protein. Intense staining was detected mainly in elongated spermatids. Maximal immunostaining was observed at stages V–VI (c, tubule a); strong staining was also observed at stages VII–VIII. (d, tubule b). Immunostaining was found in some residual bodies. The SSP411 could not be detected at stages IX–XI (e, tubule c). Weak staining reappeared in the tubules at stage XII (a, tubule d) and continued to increase and reach highest levels at stages V–VI (c). In general, 10–20 testicular sections were examined for each stage. Magnification, 100x in a–b and 400x in c–f.