Spermatid-specific expression of Iba1, an ionized calcium binding adapter molecule-1, in rat testis

Postnatal development of mammalian seminiferous tubules can be divided into three phases: spermatogonial mitosis, spermatocyte meiosis, and a postmeiotic phase in which drastic morphological changes occur in spermatids (spermiogenesis). In an attempt to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in spermiogenesis, we have applied a differential display method to identify genes that are developmentally up-regulated during rat testis development. One of the cDNA fragments isolated by differential display turned out to be iba1, an ionized calcium binding adapter molecule-1, that contains two EF hand-like motifs. Expression of iba1 mRNA in the rat testis was detected first at 4 wk in postnatal development and then increased up to adulthood. Using the antibody against a synthetic peptide corresponding to the N-terminal Iba1 protein, we discovered that Iba1 protein was not detectable by immunohistochemistry in spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and round spermatids in adult rat testis but was specifically expressed in the cytoplasm of elongate spermatids (steps 10-19) as well as in residual bodies that are ultimately engulfed by Sertoli cells. In situ hybridization, on the other hand, revealed that iba1 mRNA is present in round spermatids as well as early elongate spermatids (steps 1-12) but not in late spermatids, suggesting that ibal mRNA undergoes post-transcriptional regulation. Because Iba1 protein is specifically expressed in the cytoplasm of elongate spermatids, which is finally engulfed as residual bodies into Sertoli cells, we suggest that Iba1 may be involved in the final stage of spermiogenesis (i.e., in elimination of the residual cytoplasm from spermatids).