Figure 5

Identification of SIV and SHIV target cells in the testis and epididymis of infected macaques. (i) Gp41 SIV positive cells in the interstitium of the testis (panels A and B, phase-contrast micrograph of section under bright-field versus immunofluorescence micrograph of same area, respectively). P24 Gag (HIV) or SIV/SHIV capsid positive cells in the testis interstitium (arrow heads) and seminiferous tubules of a pre-pubertal animal (long arrow) (panels C and D). Strong p24 positive staining of spermatogonia in SHIV infected macaque (panels E and F). The frequency of infected cells in SIV infected animals (counted 5 high magnification fields/section, bright field versus stained nr of cells) is from 1–5 positive cells/tubule (out of 16–20 total number of cells) and up to 50 % of total germ cells infected in some of the SHIV infected macaques (6 cells infected in one tubule in the example shown). (ii) Individual staining and merged images of a αβTCR⁺/p24⁺ double positive cell in the testicular interstitium of a pubertal macaque (panels A, B and C). CD68⁺/p24⁺ double positive cell in the testicular interstitium of a pre-pubertal macaque (panel D, E and F). A representative image of two DC-SIGN⁺/p24⁺ double positive cells in the testicular interstitium of a pre-pubertal macaque (panels G, H and I). (iii) CD68⁺/p24⁺ double positive cell in the epididymis of a pubertal macaque (panels A, B and C).