Abstract: The purpose of this study was to analyze the distribution and expression of peptidergic neurotransmitters protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in cryptorchidism and testicular tumors of dogs,compare them with normal testicular tissues of the same age,and provide reference for clinical diagnosis of malignant transformation in testicular tumors of dogs.HE staing,Masson trichrome staining,Gomori silver staining and toluidine blue staining were used to observe the tissue characteristics of reticular fibers,collagen fibers and mast cells.Immunohistochemical SP method and immunofluorescence combined with IPP were used to analyze the expression and localization of PGP9.5 and NPY in tissues.The results showed that the seminiferous epithelium of normal dog testis was composed of 4-7 layers of spermatogenic cells and Sertoli cells,and the distribution of collagen fibers and reticular fibers in interstitial tissue was sparse.The thickness of collagen fibers in the basement membrane of cryptorchidism seminiferous tubules increased,the nucleus of Sertoli concentrated at the base of seminiferous tubules,and the interstitial reticular fibers increased.The tissue structure of testicular tumor was unclear,collagen fibers and reticular fibers were irregularly distributed,and mast cells increased significantly compared with normal and cryptorchid groups.The immunofluorescence results showed that PGP9.5 was moderately positive in Leydig cells of normal testis,no significant expression in spermatogenic cells,strongly positive in Leydig cells and spermatogenic cells of cryptorchidism,and occasional expression in testicular tumors.NPY was occasionally expressed in normal testicular Leydig cells,but not in spermatogenic cells,strong positive expression in Leydig cells and seminiferous epithelium of cryptorchidism,high density and strong positive expression in interstitial vessels,and no obvious expression in testicular tumors.Immunohistochemical statistics showed that the expression of PGP9.5 and NPY in testicular tumor tissue were extremely significantly lower than that in normal group (P<0.01),while the expression of PGP9.5 and NPY in cryptorchidism group were significantly or extremely significantly increased (P<0.05;P<0.01).Therefore,the expression of PGP9.5 and NPY in cryptorchidism of dogs was increased suggesting that the cryptorchidism of dogs had a tendency to develop into a tumor,and was related to the degree of malignant transformation of tumor.

Key words: dogs; cryptorchidism; testicular tumor; PGP9.5; NPY; immunohistochemistry