Abstract: Objective To provide a basis of further studying functional significance of the laminin receptor 1 (LAMR1) in spermatogenesis, sperm mature and fertilization, the expression of the LAMR1 in testis and epididymis of adult male mice was studied. Methods Testis and epididymis from three normal Kunming white male mice were collected. EM>In situ/EM> hybridization and immunohistochemistry were applied to detect the expression of the LAMR1 in testis and epididymis of adult male mice. Results The result of in situ hybridization showed that LAMR1 mRNA expressed in the epididymis caput and cauda at high levels，and also was detected in spermatogenic cell and spermatids. The immunohistochemistry result showed that the intensities of immunohistochemical staining of LAMR1 tended to strengthen from epididymal caput to epididymal cauda, and also was detected in spermatogenic cells, spermatids and epididymis spermatozoa. Conclusion LAMR1 has a specific distribution on testis and epididymis of adult mice, suggesting that it is likely to have some relations to the spermatogenesis and function of epididymis. The high expression in epididymis cauda spermatozoa supports the hypothesis that LAMR1 plays a role during fertilization.

Key words: Laminin receptor, Testis, Epididymis, In situ hybridization, Immunohistochemistry, Mouse