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

Ob17 is a clonal cell line isolated from the epididymal fat pad of C57 BL/6J ob/ob mouse that differentiates into adiposelike cells in serum-supplemented medium. In serum-free medium, this cell line shows increased growth under the addition of insulin, transferrin, fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and a factor present in extract of rat submaxillary gland (SMGE). This medium is referred to as 4F. Epidermal growth factor or nerve growth factor cannot replace SMGE, whereas partially purified platelet extract can substitute for FGF but only partially for SMGE. 4F Medium is able to support the proliferation of cells from other established preadipocyte clonal lines, HGFu and 3T3-F442A, and also of preadipocyte cells isolated from the stromal-vascular fraction of rat and mouse adipose tissues. In each case 4F medium is insufficient to support the differentiation of these cells into adipocytes. Ob17 cells grown and maintained in serum-free hormone-supplemented medium retain the ability to convert to adiposelike cells after serum addition. This serum requirement for differentiation cannot be substituted by the addition of growth hormone or of other putative adipogenic factors, or both. The results are discussed with respect to the requirements for growth and differentiation of the 3T3-L1 and 1246 preadipocyte cell lines previously described.
 ...
PMID:Growth of preadipocyte cell lines and cell strains from rodents in serum-free hormone-supplemented medium. 636 69

Epidermal growth factor, an androgen responsive paracrine factor, administered to pregnant mice has been reported to result in persistent wolffian ducts in female offspring. This fact led us to investigate whether epidermal growth factor can reverse the undescended testes and epididymal abnormalities associated with time specific flutamide administration. Timed pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with flutamide (undescended testes 74% and epididymal anomalies 53%) or flutamide plus epidermal growth factor (undescended testes 24% and epididymal anomalies 9%). The decrease in undescended testes and epididymal abnormalities following epidermal growth factor treatment was significant at p < 0.01. We performed immunohistological studies to evaluate whether flutamide alters epidermal growth factor expression in the paratesticular tissues during the time of maximal androgenic activity. These investigations revealed that antiandrogens did not alter epidermal growth factor expression in the fetal testes or epididymides. This finding suggests that epidermal growth factor does not reverse epididymal abnormalities or undescended testes by direct stimulation of the wolffian ducts or fetal testis.
 ...
PMID:Epidermal growth factor reverses antiandrogen induced cryptorchidism and epididymal development. 791 43

To identify the initial response to androgens and estrogens in the orchidectomized, regressed epididymis, we determined the gene expression changes triggered by the administration of either of two metabolites of testosterone, 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or 17beta-estradiol (E2), in the regressed rat epididymis. Adult rats were orchidectomized and 8 d later implanted with either empty implants (control), DHT-filled-, or E2-filled-polydioxanone implants. Rats were euthanized 12 h, 1 d, and 7 d later, and RNA was extracted and probed on Rat230-2.0 Affymetrix arrays. Probe sets that respond to DHT or E2 were identified at early time points; although the expression of some was repressed, the expression of many others was either transiently or chronically elevated. Nerve growth factor receptor (Ngfr) and S100 calcium binding protein G (S100g) were two E2 up-regulated genes detected at 12 h. Among the genes that showed a dramatic early response to DHT were endothelin 1 (Edn1), bone morphogenetic protein 4 (Bmp4), and IGF binding protein 3 (Igfbp3), which were suppressed, and IGF-I (Igf1), which was induced. Genes that were up- or down-regulated by DHT were classified based on biological function. Using PathwayStudio 4.0, we identified genes that were linked and directly influenced either the expression or regulation of one another. Epidermal growth factor and IGF-I play an important role in the pathway due to their function in regulation and expression of many other genes. These results provide novel insights into the impact of androgen action on the expression of genes that are important for epididymal function.
 ...
PMID:Identification of early response genes and pathway activated by androgens in the initial segment and caput regions of the regressed rat epididymis. 2066 69

Androgens are responsible for maintaining epididymal structure and functions. However, little is known about how androgen action is mediated and the mechanisms underlying the restoration of the integrity of epididymal cells after androgen deprivation. We first provide an overview of what is known about androgen action in this tissue and then present data on the initial and sequential roles of androgens in altering cellular architecture and function in an androgen-deprived condition. Using morphometric analysis and the rat model, we identified changes in epithelial cell height and lumen diameter, as well as in the numbers of proliferating cells in different regions and at various time points after androgen withdrawal and replacement. The sequence of gene activation or suppression that occurred in the androgen-deprived tissue was examined upon the readministration of the 2 active metabolites of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol. Although few genes were regulated by estradiol, many were affected by DHT. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulinlike growth factor-1 (IGF1) appear to play an important role in the early response pathway activated by DHT because of their function in the regulation of the expression of many other genes. The intracellular signaling pathway involved in mediating the action of androgen in restoring epididymal epithelial cell integrity was investigated using the PC-1 epididymal cell line. IGF1 and EGF receptors were found to be important mediators of androgen receptor-mediated activation of the MAPK/ERK pathways. Together, these studies provide a greater understanding of the mechanisms of androgen action in the epididymis.
 ...
PMID:Androgen action in the epididymis. 2176 95