Cholinesterase distributions in the rat epididymis and vas deferens after castration and sex hormone treatments

Abstract

Cholinesterase (ChE) distributions in the epithelial and smooth muscle cells and in the peripheral nervous plexus of the reproductive ducts of the male rat are dependent on male sex hormones. Castration results in establishment of a low maintenance level of apical enzyme activity in the epithelial cells; smooth muscles and the nerve plexus of the vas deferens and cauda epididymidis also show reduced enzyme reactions. Testosterone treatment restores the normal enzyme relations in the epithelium and smooth muscles. Estradiol is partially effective, but reaction intensities do not attain normal distrbutions and proportions. Reductions in relative numbers of ChE positive nerve plexus fibers and their enzyme reactivity, and recession to outer muscle layers occur in castrates, but better recoveries follow after testosterone than after estradiol treatments. The results are interpreted to be in agreement with other data relating to smooth muscle behavior and its neural and hormonal regulation. Epithelial cell differentiation is complete in testosterone treated castrates, but is incomplete in estradiol treated cases, although ChE synthesis and duct growth occurs in the latter.The histochemical distributions of cholinesterases in the testis, epididymis, and vas deferens were described previously for normal rats from birth to adult ages (Risley and Skrepetos, '64). The epididyma1 epithelium below the upper two zones of the caput epididymidis and into the vas deferens showed the presence of nonspecific cholinesterase, with varying intensities of enzyme reactions in several regions. Smooth muscles of the ductus epididymidis were negative but those of the vas deferens were reactive. A nerve plexus of the cauda epididymidis and vas deferens was prominently displayed by the enzyme reactions, and was positive for both acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and nonspecific cholinesterase (ChE). However, in the caput epididymidis, ductuli efferentes and testis, nerves could not be demonstrated to be associated with the duct walls using the Koelle ('51, '55) thiocholine methods.With the above information available for experimental considerations, the epididymis and vas deferens were examined for possible effects of castration and sex hormone treatments upon the occurrence and distributions of cholinesterases. Numerous enzymes of the mouse epididymis are hormone-dependent, as shown by Allen and Slater ('57, '61), and by Bern ('51) and Bern and Levy ('52) in the vas deferens and other accessory sex organs of the rat, rabbit, and guinea pig, and mouse. If development and synthesis of ChE are dependent on male sex hormones, it would be of interest to determine if epithelial and smooth muscle cells and the peripheral nerve plexus might be affected similarly or differentially in this respect, and in what ways. The ChE reactions of these tissues in untreated, and in testosterone and estradiol treated castrate are rats described in this paper. MATERIALS AND METHODSThe untreated normal young and adult male rats studied previously (Risley and Sk...

Effects of testosterone on muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the rat epididymis

“…The androgen regulation of mAChR density has been shown in prostate, vas deferens and urinary bladder (Shapiro et al, 1985;Longhurst and Brotcke, 1989;Anderson and Navarro, 1988). The literature also indicates that orchidectomy induces reduction in the cholinesterase content (Risley and Skrepetos, 1964) and an increase in the amplitude of spontaneous contractile activity (Din-Udom et al, 1985) in the rat epididymis. In the present work, the effects of testosterone on the expression of mAChR subtypes, at mRNA and protein level, were studied in this accessory sex organ.…”

Effects of Alpha-Blocker on Daily Testicular Sperm Production and Sperm Concentration, Motility, Intraluminal Pressure and Fluid Movement in the Rat Epididymis.

“…Outside diameters of seminiferous and epididymal tubules were significantly distended when treated with alpha-blocker. These results demonstrate that alpha-blocker has an effect on spermatogenesis and sperm transport in the rat testis and epididymis.epididymis; sperm parameters; luminal pressure; flow rate; alpha-blocker Although many studies have revealed that the contractions of mammalian reproductive tracts are controlled by autonomic nerves (Risley and Skrepetos 1964; Hib 1976;Hib et al 1982) and peristaltic contractility is considered to be the principle mechanism by which spermatozoa are moved through the epididymis …”

“…epididymis; sperm parameters; luminal pressure; flow rate; alpha-blocker Although many studies have revealed that the contractions of mammalian reproductive tracts are controlled by autonomic nerves (Risley and Skrepetos 1964; Hib 1976;Hib et al 1982) and peristaltic contractility is considered to be the principle mechanism by which spermatozoa are moved through the epididymis…”