Estrogen Receptors Are Present in the Epididymis of the Rooster

Aquaporins (AQPs) are membrane protein channels that allow the rapid passage of water through an epithelium containing tight junctions. In the present study, light microscope immunocytochemistry was utilized to localize several members of the AQP family in the testis, efferent ducts, and epididymis of normal adult animals during postnatal development and after various experimental procedures on adult animals. In the testis of normal adult animals, AQP‐8 was expressed exclusively in Sertoli cells, while AQP−l9 outlined Leydig cells. In the efferent ducts, AQP‐1 was expressed on the microvilli, basolateral plasma membranes, and apical endosomes of the nonciliated cells and cilia of ciliated cells, while AQP−9 was present only on the microvilli of nonciliated cells. In the epididymis, AQP−9 was localized to the microvilli of the principal cells of all regions, with the most intense reaction being noted in the initial segment and cauda regions. The clear cells of the cauda region expressed only AQP−9. AQP‐1 was not expressed in the testis or the epididymal epithelium, but it was expressed over the endothelial cells of the vascular channels of the efferent ducts and epididymis. After efferent duct ligation or orchidectomy, there was no change in the expression of AQP‐1 or −9 over the microvilli or cilia of epithelial cells in the case of the efferent ducts, suggesting that testicular factors do not regulate their expression in this region. In contrast, AQP‐9 expression in the principal cells of the initial segment, but not of other regions, and also in the clear cells of the cauda region was dramatically reduced after both treatments. As the expression was not restored to control levels by testosterone replacement, the data suggest that a luminal factor(s) derived from the testis regulates AQP‐9 expression in the principal cells of the initial segment and in the clear cells of the cauda region. Postnatal studies revealed that the expression of AQP‐1 and −9 in the different cell types of the efferent ducts and epididymis occurred between days 7 and 29, eliminating sperm and high androgen levels as possible regulating factors. Taken together, these data suggest cell specificity with respect to the expression of AQP‐8 and −9 in the testis. In the efferent ducts and epididymis, specificity exists in cell, region, and tissue distribution with respect to the expression of AQP‐1 and −9, and their expression does not appear to be regulated by androgens.

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Localization of Androgen and Estrogen Receptors in Adult Male Mouse Reproductive Tract

ZHOU,

NIE,

PRINS

et al. 2002

Journal of Andrology

288

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There is considerable variation, both within and between species, in reports of nuclear steroid receptor localizations in the male reproductive tract. In this study, androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ were visualized by immunohistochemistry in adult male mice reproductive tracts, including testes, efferent ductules; initial segment, caput, corpus, and cauda epididymides; and vas deferens. Antibody specificity was demonstrated by Western blot and antibody competition. In testis, AR was expressed in Leydig cells, Sertoli cells, and most peritubular cells, but not in germ cells; Sertoli cells showed more intense staining in stages VI‐VII; ERα was present in Leydig and some peritubular cells; ERβ was in Leydig, some peritubular, all Sertoli and germ cells except in spermatids and meiotic spermatocytes. In efferent ductules, AR was strongly expressed in ciliated and nonciliated epithelial cells and in stromal cells; ERα was strongly expressed in ciliated and nonciliated epithelial cells; stromal cells were negative; and ERβ was strongly expressed in ciliated and nonciliated epithelial cells and also in stromal cells. In epididymis, AR was strongly expressed in all epithelial cells (not in intraepithelial lymphocytes); ERα was strongly expressed in apical, narrow, and some basal cells of the initial segment, and in caput, principal cells of the caput, clear cells of the distal caput through cauda; stromal cells were negative in the initial segment, but more stromal cells were stained from caput to cauda; ERβ was strongly expressed in most of epithelial cells of the epididymis, but stromal cells were inconsistently stained. In vas deferens, AR was weakly expressed or absent in principal cells but moderately stained in basal cells, smooth muscle cells of stroma were stained intensely, ERα was absent in epithelial cells but present in a subepithelial smooth muscle layer, and ERβ was strongly expressed in all epithelial cells and most stromal cells. This study demonstrates that the reproductive tracts of male mice differ considerably from those of rats in expression of ARs and ERs and that caution is needed when extrapolating nuclear steroid receptor data across mammalian species.

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Estrogen Receptors Are Present in the Epididymis of the Rooster

Cited by 44 publications

References 30 publications

Reproduction in Poultry: Male and Female

Reproduction in Poultry: Male and Female

Expression and Regulation of Aquaporins 1, 8, and 9 in the Testis, Efferent Ducts, and Epididymis of Adult Rats and During Postnatal Development

Localization of Androgen and Estrogen Receptors in Adult Male Mouse Reproductive Tract

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