Immunohistochemical localization of epidermal growth factor receptor in testes of mice with experimentally induced diabetes

Abstract

The presence of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and changes in the immunoreactivity of the receptor in the testes of adult male Swiss albino mice with experimentally induced diabetes were determined. To induce diabetes, the mice were injected with streptozotocin at 200 mg/kg doses. The testes were excised after 1, 2 and 3 weeks following the injection. Avidin Biotin Complex immunohistochemical staining was applied to 5 mu thick paraffin sections. There was a positive immunoreactivity for EGFR only in Leydig cells. In the experimental group, although the immunoreactivity decreased after the 2(nd) and 3(rd) week (P < 0.001), any statistical difference was not determined for the immunoreactivity of EGFR in the Leydig cells after the 1(st) week. It could be concluded that a decrease in the immunoreactivity of EGFR might be one of the possible reasons for infertility in diabetic mice.