Immunohistochemical localization of the cytoskeletal proteins in the abdominal and scrotal testes of mature and immature naturally unilateral cryptorchid West African dwarf goats

This study reports the immunohistochemical localization of alpha-smooth muscle actin, cytokeratin, desmin and vimentin cytoskeletal proteins in the abdominal and contralateral scrotal testes of mature and immature spontaneously unilateral cryptorchid West African Dwarf Goats (WADGs). Smooth muscle actin and desmin were co-expressed in the capsule, peritubule and the interstitium of the mature (scrotal) and immature (scrotal and abdominal) testes. Only smooth muscle actin, however, was variably immunoexpressed in the mature abdominal testes. Mature (scrotal) and immature (scrotal and abdominal) were variably immunopositive for cytokeratin. The mature abdominal testis was immunonegative for both cytokeratin and desmin. Vimentin was very weakly to moderately immunolocalized in the capsule and the interstitium of the immature abdominal testes, while the contralateral immature scrotal testis showed moderate to very strong immunoreactivity in the peritubule and interstitium. The interstitium of the mature scrotal testes was weakly to moderately immunopositive for vimentin. The interstitium of mature abdominal testis was, however, either negatively or weakly immunostained for vimentin. The perinuclear zone of each Sertoli cell showed vimentin immunoreactivity that was generally more intense in immature testes. The results of the study show that the cytoskeletal proteins in the Sertoli cells of WADGs are immunohistochemically similar to those reported in bovine and ovine species. The results also show that the testicular capsule of WADGs is immunopositive for vimentin, contrary to what has been reported in bulls and rams. The study demonstrates that spontaneous cryptorchidism in WADGs affects the coexpression of cytoskeletal proteins in a somewhat different way from the situation observed in humans, bulls and rams. Eur J Anat, 16 (2): 104-112 (2012)