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Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are a family of heparin binding proteins involved in many biological processes. These growth factors act through tyrosine kinase receptors (FGFRs); we have previously used immunohistochemistry to study FGFRs-1-4 in foetal, immature and adult rat testes, and found a discrete cell- and stage-specific localisation. Alternative mRNA splicing of FGFRs-1-3 leads to functional variants (IIIb and IIIc) with distinct ligand binding affinities, therefore we have identified the specific expression of functional FGFR variants and the expression and localisation of FGF ligands in testes from foetal, immature and adult rats. Using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we found that mRNAs for FGFR-1 IIIb and IIIc, FGFR-2 IIIc, FGFR-3 IIIc and FGFR-4 were expressed in foetal, immature and adult testes. Ligands FGFs-1-5, and -8, which can signal through these receptors, were also expressed in testes at each age. Localisation of the ligands FGFs-1, -3 and -4 to rat testes by immunohistochemistry showed a discrete cell- and stage-specific localisation that altered during testis development. This study has shown that the ligands FGFs-1, -3 and -4 are expressed in the testis and have the capacity to signal through appropriate receptors that are also co-localised or expressed in adjacent cell types in the testis. Collectively, the expression profiles of the seven FGFR variants and FGFs-1-5 and -8 suggest a functional importance in testicular development and spermatogenesis. It is concluded that, future studies on the role of other FGF ligands, in particular FGFs-1-4, are warranted.
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