Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P56851 (epididymal)
 11,273 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Estrogen receptor mRNA expression was detected in the head and tail parts of the human epididymis by means of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Immunocytochemical labelling showed that ciliate and nonciliate cells from the epithelium of the efferent ductules possessed strong to moderate nuclear staining for estrogen and progesterone receptors. The epididymal duct was negative for both antigens. Vascular endothelial cells also showed estrogen receptor, but no progesterone receptor immunolabelling in all regions of the organ. Immunoreactivity for the estrogen receptor-related antigen (ER-D5) was seen in the cytoplasm of ciliated and nonciliated epithelial cells from the efferent ductules, in the basal cells of some epididymal duct profiles as well as in myofibroblasts of the lamina propria, endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells of the vessel walls. The results obtained suggest that the epithelial cells of the efferent ductules of the human epididymis may be main target structures of estrogens and progestins.
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PMID:Estrogen and progesterone receptors and estrogen receptor-related antigen (ER-D5) in human epididymis. 921 30

Regulation of the excurrent ducts of the testis is not well understood, particularly in avian species. To investigate the role of steroid hormones in the male reproductive tract, we developed a primary cell culture of epithelia isolated from rooster ductuli efferentes (efferent ductules). Efferent ductules of the avian testis comprise 77% of the epididymal region and form a mass of tubules containing a heavily folded epithelium enmeshed in connective tissue. The epididymal region was separated by microdissection and small epithelial plaques isolated by serial digestion with collagenase, elastase and repeated pipetting. Isolated cell plaques were cultured in a bicameral chamber on Millicell-CM inserts coated with two layers of basement membrane matrix, consisting primarily of laminin and Types I and IV collagen. Active ciliary beat was observed before plating and this activity was maintained for 14 days in culture. Cell plaques attached within 24 h and outgrowths formed a confluent monolayer by 5-6 days. The epithelial nature of cultured cells was demonstrated by immunocytochemical staining for cytokeratin. Light and electron microscopy confirmed that morphology and polarity of the original epithelial cells were maintained in culture. Cultured efferent ductal epithelium was cuboidal in shape and maintained many of the cytoplasmic organelles typical of these cells in vivo. The uptake of cationic ferritin indicated the endocytotic activity of these cultured cells was maintained. Estrogen receptor mRNA expression was maintained in cultured cells. These data demonstrate avian efferent ductal epithelium can be isolated and grown in defined culture medium for the purpose of determining the role of hormones and other factors in regulating the function of the epididymal region in the bird.
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PMID:Morphology and function of rooster efferent ductule epithelial cells in culture. 983 79

A growing body of evidence suggests a role of estrogens in the male reproduction via their specific estrogen receptors (ERalpha/ERbeta). Estrogen receptor distribution along the genital tract tissues has been described in different species, but it is unknown in the pig. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to localize ERbeta in the epididymis of mature and immature pigs (aged 2 and 18 months, respectively). Immunohistochemistry was carried out on paraffin-embedded tissues using a mouse anti-human monoclonal IgG against ERbeta as the primary antibody, and a goat anti-mouse biotinylated IgG as the secondary antibody. Avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex was then applied followed by diaminobenzidine. In immature pigs, the epithelial cells from the caput, corpus and cauda epididymis showed no or very weak immunoreactivity for ERbeta, whereas they were all strongly immmunoreactive in mature pigs. A various intensity of immunostaining from weak to strong in the smooth muscle cells as well as in the connective tissue cells were detected in the epididymis of both, young and adult pigs. This is the first report on the cellular localization of ERbeta protein in porcine epidydimis. The present study demonstrated that (1) irrespectively of the epididymal region, the epithelial cells of caput, corpus and cauda epididymis of mature pigs revealed a strong immunoreactivity for ERbeta, and (2) ERbeta expression in the epididymal epithelium is regulated by puberty. Finally, although the biological activity of ERbeta has not yet been established, the results of the present study suggest its involvement in estrogen modulation of pig epididymal function.
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PMID:Immunolocalization of estrogen receptor beta in the epididymis of mature and immature pigs. 1504 95

Estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha) plays a critical role in male reproductive tract development and fertility. To determine whether estrogen-dependent and -independent ERalpha mechanisms are involved in male fertility, we examined male estrogen nonresponsive ERalpha knock-in mice. These animals have a point mutation (G525L) in the ligand-binding domain of ERalpha that significantly reduces interaction with, and response to, endogenous estrogens but does not affect growth factor activation of ligand-independent ERalpha pathways. Surprisingly, we found that ligand-independent ERalpha signaling is essential for concentrating epididymal sperm via regulation of efferent ductule fluid reabsorption. In contrast, estrogen-dependent ERalpha signaling is required for germ cell viability, most likely through support of Sertoli cell function. By treating estrogen nonresponsive ERalpha knock-in (ENERKI) mice with the ERalpha selective synthetic agonist propyl pyrazole triol, which is able to bind and activate G525L ERalpha in vivo, we discovered male fertility required neonatal estrogen-mediated ERalpha signaling. Thus, our work indicates both estrogen-dependent and -independent pathways play separable roles in male murine reproductive tract development and that the role of ERalpha in human infertility should be examined more closely.
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PMID:Estrogen-dependent and -independent estrogen receptor-alpha signaling separately regulate male fertility. 1926 77

Estrogen receptor-alpha (ESR1) is highly expressed in the efferent ductules of all species studied as well as in the epididymal epithelium in mice and other select species. Male mice lacking ESR1 (Esr1KO) are infertile, but transplantation studies demonstrated that Esr1KO germ cells are capable of fertilization when placed in a wild-type reproductive tract. These results suggest that extratesticular regions, such as the efferent ductules and epididymis, are the major source of pathological changes in Esr1KO males. Previous studies have shown alterations in ion and fluid transporters in the efferent duct and epididymal epithelia of Esr1KO males, leading to misregulation of luminal fluid pH. To determine the effect of an altered epididymal milieu on Esr1KO sperm, we assayed sperm morphology in the different regions of the epididymis. Sperm recovered from the epididymis exhibited abnormal flagellar coiling and increased incidence of spontaneous acrosome reactions, both of which are consistent with exposure to abnormal epididymal fluid. Analysis of the epididymal fluid revealed that the osmolality of the Esr1KO fluid was reduced relative to wild type, consistent with prior reports of inappropriate fluid absorption from the efferent ductules. This, along with the finding that morphological defects increased with transit through the epididymal duct, suggests that the anomalies in sperm are a consequence of the abnormal luminal environment. Consistent with this, incubating Esr1KO sperm in a more wild-type-like osmotic environment significantly rescued the abnormal flagellar coiling. This work demonstrates that Esr1KO mice exhibit an abnormal fluid environment in the lumen of the efferent ducts and epididymis, precluding normal sperm maturation and instead resulting in progressive deterioration of sperm that contributes to infertility.
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PMID:Epididymal hypo-osmolality induces abnormal sperm morphology and function in the estrogen receptor alpha knockout mouse. 2013 Feb 66