Activation of Penile Proadipogenic Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor with an Estrogen: Interaction with Estrogen Receptor Alpha during Postnatal Development
Figure 6
(a) Representative immunohistochemical staining for PPARγ protein in the body of the penis of
28-day-old DES-treated (A), (B), and (C) and control untreated rats (D), (E), and (F). Note that PPARγ protein is expressed in DES-treated (DES-28 d) and normal
rats (CONT-28 d) with increased intensity and fat cells in DES-treated rats
(see panel (C)). Note expression in transitional epithelium of the penile
urethra (PU) and the surrounding
corpus spongiousm (CS) in (A) and (D) and in the endothelium
of blood vessels and smooth muscle cells in the dorsal artery (a) and vein (v), and in nerve fibers of the dorsal nerve (n) of the penis (B) and (E). Similar staining intensity can be seen in the endothelium and
smooth muscles of the vascular lacunae (Vl)
in the corpus cavernosum penis (CC) in control normal rats (F). Note
one contrasting difference is that the cavernous spaces in DES-treated rats in
panel (C) are replaced with fat
cells (Fc) that show increased
staining intensity in the cell nucleus located at cell periphery. Panels (C2) and (F2) show a closer view of area outlined by insert box. Control
sections (minus primary antibody) were in panels (G), (H), and (I). Scale
bar = 30 m. (b) IHC staining for PPARγ protein was
significantly reduced by ICI 182, 780 treatment [compare staining in panels (J) and (M) with (L) and (N)]. Panel (P) is a negative control (minus
primary antibody). Scale bar 30 m.
