Surfactant Proteins A and D in the Seminal Plasma of Stallions

Authors: AYHAN ATA, ORHAN KANKAVİ, M.AKİF ÇİFTÇİOĞLU

Abstract: We have previously shown that surfactant protein (SP)-A and SP-D are present in the stallion´s genital system. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression and presence of SP-A and SP-D in the seminal plasma and accessory sex glands of stallions. We characterized further the SP-A and SP-D in the seminal plasma of stallions by western blotting and immunohistochemically in accessory sex glands. On one-dimensional SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and western blots, bands for SP-A (34 kDa) and SP-D (43 kDa) in seminal plasma and accessory sex gland tissue extracts were detected. The similarity between biochemical properties (relative molecular masses) of SP-A and SP-D in accessory sex glands and seminal plasma imply that SP-A and SP-D proteins are also present in the seminal plasma and accessory sex glands of stallions.

Keywords: Surfactant protein A (SP-A), surfactant protein D (SP-D), western blotting, stallion, immunohistochemistry, seminal plasma, accessory sex glands

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