Carcinoembryonic antigen-cell adhesion molecule-1 and stage-specific embryonic antigen-4 positive cells are located in the reproductive organs of an adult mammal

Endogenous carcinoembryonic antigen-cell adhesion molecule-1 positive totipotent stem cells and stage specific embryonic antigen-4 positive pluripotent stem cells have been isolated from multiple species of adult animals, including humans. This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that carcinoembryonic antigen-cell adhesion molecule-1 positive cells and/or stage specific embryonic antigen-4 positive cells were located in the reproductive organs of an adult mammal. Adult male and female rats were euthanized following the guidelines of Mercer University’s IACUC. Testes, ovaries, and fallopian tubes were harvested and processed for vibratome- or cryostat-sectioning. Tissue sections were incubated with antibodies to carcinoembryonic antigen-cell adhesion molecule-1 and stage specific embryonic antigen-4 cell surface epitopes and stained using an enzyme-linked immunoculture assay (ELICA) coupled with immunocytochemistry. This is the first report of the existence of native populations of both carcinoembryonic antigen-cell adhesion molecule-1 positive cells and stage specific embryonic antigen-4 positive cells in the reproductive organs of an adult mammal.