Expression of CD30 in testis and Epididymis of adult mice

CD30 is a member of tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily and has pleiotropic functions including cell activation, proliferation, differentiation, and death, depending on cell types and stage of differentiation. Although CD30 expression has been described mainly in hematopoietic tissues, several types of nonhematopoietic tumors including embryonic carcinoma and germ‐cell tumors express CD30. We examined CD30 distribution in the testis and epididymis from wild type and CD30‐deficient mice. In the testis, spermatogonia, spermatocytes and Sertoli cells expressed CD30, but not in spermatids. Spermatogonia and spermatocytes near the basement membrane strongly reacted to anti‐CD30. In the epididymis, CD30 expression was exclusively observed in luminal epithelia and some interstitial cells. Taken together, these results show a spatio‐temporal regulation of CD30 expression in mouse testis and epididymis and suggest a possible role of CD30 in spermatogonia and spermatocytes.