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)

To date, no longitudinal studies have been carried out to determine the recovery of ethanol-related reproductive failure subsequent to moderate periods of abstinence. An animal model (C57B1 mouse) was utilized to examine the effectiveness of abstinence for reversal of ethanol-induced reproductive failure. After treatment with either a 5% (v/v) ethanol diet (10 weeks) or a 6% (v/v) ethanol diet (5 weeks), ethanol-treated animals and their pair-fed controls were electroejaculated and hemicastrated (right testis and accessory organs); their reproductive tracts and epididymal spermatozoa were examined. Ingestion of the 5% and 6% ethanol diets resulted in significantly (P less than 0.05) decreased weights of testes (24% and 28%, respectively) and seminal vesicles/prostate (20%, 6% diet only), increased frequencies of germ cell desquamation (480% and 400%), inactive seminiferous tubules (186% and 567%), sperm dysmorphology (31% and 119%) and inhibition of in vitro fertilization of mouse oocytes by epididymal spermatozoa (26% and 62%), as compared to their respective pair-fed control values. Also observed were significant decreases in epididymal sperm content (72%, 6% diet only), total motile spermatozoa (85%, 6% diet only) and seminal vesicles epithelial cell height (13% and 29%). No abnormal semen parameters were observed after treatment with the 5% ethanol diet; however, in animals treated with the 6% diet, significant decreases were noted in coagulum weight (50%), sperm count (85%) and acid phosphatase content (53%). Improvement in all parameters was observed in the contralateral half of the reproductive tract subsequent to 10 weeks abstinence. Only germ cell desquamation remained significantly elevated (100% as compared to control) in animals that ingested the 5% diet. In contrast, significant abnormalities persisting 10 weeks after treatment with the 6% ethanol diet included increased germ cell desquamation (200%), inactive seminiferous tubules (157%) and sperm dysmorphology (39%) and decreased forward progression (17%) of epididymal sperm, as compared to values. These findings are discussed in relation to the influence of alcohol consumption on male reproductive function in man.
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PMID:Partial reversal of ethanol-induced male reproductive pathology following abstinence. 405 65

Cellulose acetate electrophoresis of rabbit seminal fluid give, after amidoschwartz staining, 19 protein bands, all migration towards the anode. Nine of them are present in at least 80% of the samples. With the acid of specific detection techniques, it was possible to demonstrate th presence of zinc in four bands, acid phosphatase activity in two and glycoprotein in three of the bands. Serum compounds seem to be present in small quantities. Study of fluids squeezed out from prostate, paraprostate, seminal vesicle and epididymal tail show few specific bands in these secretions: four in the case of prostate, three for paraprostate and one for seminal vesicle. Comparisons between human and rabbit seminal fluid electrophoresis show no relationship between these two types of secretion.
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PMID:Comparative electrophoretic study between rabbit and human seminal fluid. 408 49

To investigate the origin and nature of vesicles found within multivesicular bodies (mvb), the cytochemical staining properties of mvb vesicles were compared with those of other cytoplasmic vesicles, i.e. those associated with the Golgi complex and endocytic vesicles found near the apical cell surface. Rat epididymal tissue was stained in unbuffered OsO(4) for 40-48 hr, and the distribution of stain was compared to that of reaction products for acid phosphatase (AcPase) to mark lysosomal vesicles, or thiamine pyrophosphatase (TPPase) to mark certain Golgi vesicles, or infused with peroxidase (HRPase) to demonstrate endocytic vesicles. Mvb vesicles were stained only by OsO(4); AcPase, TPPase, and HRPase reaction products stained the mvb matrix. OsO(4) also stained certain vesicles along the convex surface of the Golgi complex. The findings suggest that mvb vesicles in epididymal epithelium are not lysosomes and are not involved in protein uptake. The majority of these vesicles have cytochemical reactions in common with vesicles located along the convex surface of the Golgi complex and may be derived therefrom. A minority are derived from the mvb-limiting membrane.
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PMID:Cytochemical staining of multivesicular body and golgi vesicles. 418 Mar 53

Rats underwent either left unilateral or bilateral vasectomy; the vas deferens was ligated at both ends and a piece of it was removed. 1 animal was sacrificed each week at 1-8 months. Zones I-VI of the epididymis, as described by Reid and Cleland (1957), were studied from both the vasectomized and contralateral sides. When the vasectomized side was compared with the contralateral unoperated side or with controls, no consistent difference was seen in the diameters of the ducts from the various regions of the epididymis (caput, corpus, cauda, and vas). Findings in Zones I-VI are summarized. The vasectomized side had an accumulation of lysosomes and residual bodies in the principal cells; this indicated resorption of spermatozoa. On the contralateral side similar accumulations were seen after 10 weeks. Spermatozoa seem to be first broken down and only then resorbed by the epithelial cells of the epididymal duct. Luminal breakdown of spermatozoa may be due to aging of spermatozoa or a reduced production of certain secretory products by the epididymis. A third possibility, secretion of a lytic substance by the epididymis, is made somewhat untenable by a lack of substantial increase in acid phosphatase levels in the epididymis.
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PMID:Ultrastructural changes in rat epididymis after vasectomy. 473 67

A correlative ultrastructural and histochemical study of the epididymal principal cells was carried out on six normal mature macaque monkeys with known reproductive histories. The outstanding cytologic feature of the principal cells was the abundance of infranuclear electron-dense granules (0.2-0.5 micronsm). These cellular inclusions are found in close proximity with large clusters of small mitochondria and to the subepithelial and periductular capillaries surrounding the basal epithelium. Histochemical tests revealed that these granules do not contain acid phosphatase, are not lipid, but do contain mucopolysaccharides and glycoprotein moieties. This intriguing morphological characteristic of the infranuclear region of the principal cells is similar throughout the entire length of the epididymis and appears to be unique in the monkey. The close relationship of these secretion type granules to mitochondria and their proximity to basal epithelial capillaries is in agreement with the concept of epididymal secretion and a possible endocrine function of the mammalian epididymis must be considered.
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PMID:Ultrastructural and histochemical observations on the principal cells of monkey epididymis. 615 21

The three main segments of the elephant epididymis were examined for the occurrence, in the spermatozoa and lining epithelium, of carbohydrates, neutral lipids and phospholipids, ATPase, alkaline phosphatase, succinic dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, diaphorases, hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases, acid phosphatase and non-specific esterase. The most distinct feature of the carbohydrate content of the epididymis was a layer of acidic, alcian blue-positive glycoprotein over the luminal surface of the epithelium, particularly in the terminal segment. PAS-positive, diastase-resistant inclusions were also found throughout the epdidymis. Neutral lipid occurred as droplets above and below the nucleus in the epithelium of the middle segment, and as supranuclear accumulations in the terminal segment. All the enzymes except the steroid dehydrogenases were detected in the epididymal epithelium, and all except the steroid dehydrogenases and acid phosphatase were detected in the spermatozoa. There was considerable variation in the intensity of the cytochemical reactions in the epithelium, but not in the spermatozoa, in different regions of the epididymis. In general, the enzymes involved in active transport showed strongest reactions in the initial and terminal segments, the reactions in the stereocilia being the most intense. The enzymes involved in energy metabolism showed strongest reactions in the middle and terminal segments, with the activity being fairly evenly distributed throughout the cytoplasm of the principal cells. However, the two lysosomal enzymes which were studied showed quite different distributions: the reactions for acid phosphatase were strongest in the initial and middle segments, whilst the reactions for non-specific esterase were strongest in the middle and terminal segments. It is suggested that the initial segment is involved in absorptive and anabolic activity, the middle segment in anabolic activity, and the terminal segment (where spermatozoa are stored ready for ejaculation) in considerable metabolic activity and active transport of substrates across the epithelium.
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PMID:Studies of the deferent ducts from the testis of the African elephant, Loxodonta africana. II. Histochemistry of the epididymis. 644 36

The effects of estradiol benzoate (E2B) at a dose of 50 micrograms/day per rat for 7, 15 and 24 days on some androgenic parameters, viz. organ weights including those of pituitary, succinate dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, fructose, cholesterol and protein of epididymis, vas deferens, accessory glands and fertility in male rats were investigated. The semen characteristics and standard electron microscopy (SEM) study on sperm morphology of cauda epididymis were also carried out. The results revealed that most of the androgenic parameters were decreased by E2B administration, whereas the accumulation of cholesterol and protein occurred in testis and epididymis due to androgen deprivation to target organs. This deprivation effect also led to a reduction in testicular and cauda epididymal sperm population, loss of motility in the latter and an increase in number of abnormal spermatozoa, thereby manifesting 100% failure in fertility in treated animals. Moreover, these effects were related to the duration of the treatment. Thus, the estradiol benzoate showed androgen antagonistic and antifertility effects in rats.
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PMID:Effect of estradiol benzoate on reproductive organs and fertility in the male rat. 661 37

The histochemical localization of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and acid phosphatase (ACP) was determined in regions I to VI of the epididymis in mature intact, orchidectomized, and orchidectomized testosterone-treated bulls. The intensity of ALP activity was essentially the same in all regions; however, its localization varied depending upon the region. Although the stereocilia and luminal border of epithelial cells were strongly-positive in regions I to III, these were negative in regions IV to VI. The basement membrane and circumtubular smooth muscle cells were strongly ALP reactive in all regions. Epithelial ALP activity was abolished completely by orchidectomy; however, it was restored to normal concentration by testosterone treatment implying its dependence on circulating testosterone. The ACP activity was present in the epithelial cells of all regions with the strongest activity in the supranuclear region. Similar to ALP, ACP activity was markedly reduced in the epithelial cells by orchidectomy. However, in contrast to ALP activity, lost ACP activity was only minimally increased by testosterone treatment in all regions, except in region VI where it was restored to a normal concentration. These observations imply that although the epithelial ACP activity of region VI was mainly under the influence of circulatory testosterone, there may be other factors such as luminal androgens, testicular fluid, and sperm that may be important in regulating the ACP activity of regions I to V of the epididymis. The importance of ALP and ACP in the epididymal epithelium was discussed.
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PMID:Histochemical activity of alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase in the epididymis of mature intact and androgen-deprived bulls. 671 72

Several short- or long-term and longitudinal or cross-sectional studies have been conducted to ascertain the effect of vasectomy on circulating levels of gonadotropic and gonadal hormones and the function of assessory sex organs. Vasectomy does not cause noticeable changes in pituitary testicular axis. Changes, when they occur, are marginal and the hormone levels are still within normal physiological limits. The secretory function of both the prostate and the epididymis are changed as a result of vasectomy. There is a 2-fold increase in acid phosphatase in semen after vasectomy, indicating hyperfunction of the prostate. Both prostatic secretions and epididymal secretions decrease after vasectomy. 1 group of 12 men vasectomized for 1 week to 8 years were reanastomized and followed up for 12 months. Semen volume, seminal critic acid, maltase, glycerophosphorylcholine, prolactin, zinc, and magnesium returned to normal levels within 6 months, some within 1 month.
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PMID:Endocrine and accessory sex organ function after vasectomy and vasovasostomy. 679 97

Ejaculates were obtained from C57BL mice by applying two successive series of electrical stimuli which were delivered via a bipolar rectal probe. The ejaculates thus collected contained fertile spermatozoa as indicated by results from in-vitro fertilization. Once separated from the seminal plasma, ejaculated spermatozoa possessed the same in-vitro fertilization rate as epididymal sperm. Ejaculates were analysed for coagulum weight, ejaculate volume, sperm count, sperm motility, acid phosphatase content and fructose content. Significant differences were present between several of these values for fertile and infertile mice, and values were therefore empirically assigned to represent minimal amounts for 'normal' fertility (1.5 microliters ejaculate volume; 10.2 mg coagulum weight; 2.5 x 10(6) spermatozoa/ml; 2.3 x 10(3) motile spermatozoa/ejaculate). One half of the fertile animals had no deficiencies in any of the characteristics measured, whereas 97% of the infertile animals had at least one deficiency. No fertile male had more than 2 deficiencies. These data show that the characteristics of mouse semen obtained by the present method of electroejaculation are related to the fertility status of the animal.
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PMID:Relationship between semen characteristics and fertility in electroejaculated mice. 684 42


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