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)

The expression of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) mRNA in tissues of the adult rat male reproductive tract was examined. Northern blot analysis of total RNA revealed that GGT mRNA expression occurs primarily in the initial segment and caput epididymidis. Multiple GGT mRNAs of varying sizes were detected in the testis and in different regions of the epididymis: testis, 2.4 and 2.8 kb; efferent ducts, 2.2 and 2.5 kb; initial segment, 2.2, 2.4, and 2.5 kb; caput, 2.2, 2.4, and 2.5 kb; corpus, 2.2 and 2.5 kb; cauda, 2.2 and 2.5 kb; ductus deferens, 2.2 and 2.4 kb. Ribonuclease (RNase) H removal of the poly(A) tail from testicular and epididymal GGT mRNA revealed that multiple GGT mRNAs were not generated by differences in the length of the poly(A) tail. Northern blot analysis of poly(A)+ mRNA with four GGT mRNA 5' untranslated region (UTR)-specific cRNA probes showed that the multiple GGT mRNAs expressed in the testis and epididymis were due to differences in the lengths and nucleotide compositions of the 5' UTR. We hypothesize that transcription of multiple GGT mRNAs from different promoters on the single-copy GGT gene is the molecular basis that underlies the region-specific expression of GGT mRNAs along the rat male reproductive tract.
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PMID:Multiple forms of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase messenger ribonucleic acid are expressed in the adult rat testis and epididymis. 790 29

This study investigated the pattern and site of expression of the prolactin receptor gene in the testis and epididymis of red deer collected during the breeding season (n=3). Ribonuclease protection assays using 50 microg total RNA and a 300 bp [32P]-labelled antisense cRNA probe, generated from the extracellular domain of the red deer prolactin receptor, confirmed the expression of the receptor in both the testis and epididymis; a higher level of prolactin receptor mRNA was detected in the epididymis compared with the testis (170.4+/-1.5 x 10(3) and 26.3+/-2.7 x 10(3) arbitrary units respectively; P<0.05). In situ hybridisation using 300 bp [33P]-labelled sense and antisense cRNA probes generated from the extracellular domain of the receptor localised the expression sites to the seminiferous tubules and interstitial compartments of the testis and the epithelial layer of the epididymal duct. Quantification of grain numbers demonstrated a higher level of expression of the receptor in the epididymis compared with the interstitial and seminiferous tubule compartments of the testis (18.1+/-4.4 x 10(2), 10.1+/-2.0 x 10(2) and 8.3+/-0.8 x 10(2) grains/microm2 respectively; P<0.05). However, no differences were detected in the level of expression of the receptor between the interstitial and seminiferous tubule compartments of the testis. Immunocytochemistry using an anti-prolactin receptor antibody, raised against a peptide sequence from the extracellular domain of the rat prolactin receptor, localised expression of the receptor gene to the Leydig cells, pachytene spermatocytes, round spermatids and elongating spermatids. In the epididymis, the receptor was localised to the epithelial layer within the epididymal ducts. Expression of the prolactin receptor gene in the red deer testis and epididymis suggests a role for the hormone in steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis.
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PMID:Is prolactin a gonadotrophic hormone in red deer (Cervus elaphus)? Pattern of expression of the prolactin receptor gene in the testis and epididymis. 958 32

We have characterized the expression of alpha1-adrenoceptor in epididymis from rats in different stages of sexual maturation: 40 (immature), 60 (young adult), and 120 (adult) days of age. Plasma testosterone levels were low in the immature animals but increased significantly in the 60- and 120-day-old animals. These changes were followed by a progressive increase in rat body weight and in caput and cauda epididymis relative weight. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay indicated that alpha1a-, alpha1b-, and alpha1d-adrenoceptor transcripts were present in both caput and cauda epididymis from adult rats. Ribonuclease protection assays further indicated that the expression of these alpha1-adrenoceptor transcripts differed with age and epididymal region analyzed. Prazosin (nonselective alpha1 antagonist), 5-methyl urapidil (alpha1A-selective), and BMY 7378 (alpha1D-selective) displaced [3H]prazosin binding curves in caput and cauda epididymis from 40- and 120-day-old rats. The potency order for these antagonists, as calculated from the negative logarithm of the inhibition constant (pK(i)) values for the high-affinity sites, indicated a predominant population of alpha1A-adrenoceptor subtype in caput and cauda epididymis from adult animals. Differences in pK(i) values in caput and cauda epididymis from immature and adult animals also suggested that the relative amount of alpha1-adrenoceptors, at the protein level, is modulated by sexual maturation. Taken together, the changes in alpha1-adrenoceptor expression during sexual maturation may suggest specific roles for these receptors in epididymal function.
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PMID:Alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes in rat epididymis and the effects of sexual maturation. 1180 69

The effect of testosterone on the expression of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) subtypes was studied in the rat epididymis, at mRNA and protein level. The rat androgen status was monitored by measuring plasma testosterone level and caput and cauda epididymis wet weight. Ribonuclease protection assay (RPA) and [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) binding assay were performed in the caput and cauda epididymis from control (50-day old), castrated, castrated and treated with testosterone and sexually immature (30-day old) rats. The expression of each mAChR transcript subtype differed depending on the epididymal region analyzed and rat testosterone and/or testicular factors status. In control rats, RPA showed the presence of mRNA for M1, M2 and M3 mAChR in the caput and cauda epididymis. The abundance of m2 and m3 transcripts in the cauda was higher than that in the caput epididymis. Low amount of m1 transcript was observed in both regions. Orchidectomy increased m1 mRNA amount in the caput and cauda epididymis when compared to control rats, an effect slightly modified by testosterone replacement. Although orchidectomy down-regulated the level of m2 transcript in both epididymal regions, castration significantly increased m3 mRNA amount in the caput region. These effects on m2 and m3 transcripts were prevented by testosterone replacement to castrated rats. Similar abundance of m3 transcript, however, was detected in the cauda epididymis of all experimental group tested. [3H]QNB binding studies revealed that orchidectomy down-regulated the number of mAChR detected in both epididymal regions, an effect also prevented by testosterone replacement. Thus, testosterone and/or testicular factors may play a role in the regulation of mAChR expression in the rat epididymis.
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PMID:Effects of testosterone on muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the rat epididymis. 1592 97

Ribonuclease, RNase A family, 9 (RNASE9) is a ribonuclease A superfamily member that is expressed only in the epididymis. It is a small, secreted polypeptide, it lacks ribonuclease activity, and its function(s) is unknown. However, epididymis-specific expression suggests a role in sperm maturation. We generated Rnase9(-/-) mice to study RNASE9 function in vivo. We confirm that RNASE9 expression is restricted to the epididymis. Within the epididymis, RNASE9 is first detected in midcaput, persists through the distal caput and corpus, and wanes in the cauda. Rnase9(-/-) mice are born at the expected Mendelian ratio, have normal postnatal growth and development, and have no outwardly apparent phenotype. Spermatogenesis is normal, and Rnase9-null sperm are morphologically normal. Rnase9(-/-) males have normal fertility in unrestricted mating trials, and fertilization rates in in vitro fertilization assays are indistinguishable from wild-type mice. Visual observations coupled with analyses of sperm velocities shortly after swim out from the corpus shows that motility of Rnase9-null sperm is significantly impaired. However, no differences between wild-type and Rnase9-null sperm are detected by computer-assisted sperm analysis 10-90 min after sperm isolation from the corpus or cauda. Assessment of capacitation-dependent signaling pathways in Rnase9-null sperm showed that, while levels of tyrosine phosphorylation of sperm proteins were normal, there was decreased phosphorylation of protein kinase A substrates upon capacitation compared to wild-type mice. In conclusion, RNASE9 is dispensable for fertility, but the absence of RNASE9 during epididymal transit results in impaired sperm maturation.
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PMID:Impaired sperm maturation in RNASE9 knockout mice. 2471 58