Immunohistochemical Evaluation of GATA-4 in Canine Testicular Tumors

• Published in: Veterinary pathology Vol. 46; no. 5; pp. 893 - 896
• Main Authors: Ramos-Vara, J.A, Miller, M.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA American College of Veterinary Pathologists 01.09.2009; SAGE Publications
• Subjects: Animals; biomarkers; Dog Diseases - metabolism; Dog Diseases - pathology; Dogs; GATA4 Transcription Factor - metabolism; immunohistochemistry; Immunohistochemistry - veterinary; Leydig Cell Tumor - metabolism; Leydig Cell Tumor - pathology; Leydig cell tumors; Leydig cells; Male; neoplasms; seminomas; Sertoli Cell Tumor - metabolism; Sertoli Cell Tumor - pathology; Sertoli cell tumors; Sertoli cells; Sex Cord-Gonadal Stromal Tumors - metabolism; Sex Cord-Gonadal Stromal Tumors - pathology; sex cord-stromal tumors; testes; Testicular Neoplasms - metabolism; Testicular Neoplasms - pathology; Testicular Neoplasms - veterinary; transcription factors; Canines; Leydig cell tumor; Sertoli cell tumor; immunohistochemistry; seminoma; testis; GATA-4; neoplasia
• ISSN: 0300-9858; 1544-2217
• DOI: 10.1354/vp.08-VP-0287-R-BC

GATA-4 is a transcription factor expressed in Sertoli cells and less commonly in Leydig (interstitial) cells but not germ cells in adult human beings, cattle, pigs, and mice. We examined GATA-4 in 76 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded canine testicular tumors, including 21 Sertoli cell tumors (SCT), 28 Leydig (interstitial) cell tumors (LCT), 24 seminomas (GCT), and 3 mixed germ cell sex cord-stromal tumors (MGSCT). Our hypothesis was that immunohistochemistry for GATA-4 could discriminate between germ cell and sex cord-stromal tumors of the canine testis. SCTs (21/21) had strong diffuse nuclear and weak and inconsistent cytoplasmic staining. LCTs (27/28) also had strong diffuse nuclear staining and much weaker and granular cytoplasmic staining. GCTs were negative for this marker. Sex cord-stromal cells of MGSCT were also positive. These results indicate that GATA-4 is mainly expressed in sex cord-stromal tumors and not in germ cell tumors of the canine testis.