Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.5187/JAST.2013.55.6.521

Differential Expression of Multiple Connexins in Rat Corpus and Cauda Epididymis at Various Postnatal Stages  

Lee, Ki-Ho (Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Eulji University)
Publication Information
Journal of Animal Science and Technology / v.55, no.6, 2013 , pp. 521-530 More about this Journal
Abstract
Direct cell-cell communication via the transfer of small molecules between neighboring cells in tissue is accomplished by gap junctions composed of various connexins (Cxs). Proper postnatal development of the epididymis is important for acquisition of male reproduction. The epididymal epithelium is composed of several cell types, and some of these cells are connected by gap junctions. The present study was conducted to determine the presence of Cx transcripts in the corpus and cauda epididymis. In addition, transcriptional changes of Cxs expressed during different postnatal stages were examined by real-time PCR analysis. In both epididymal regions, the same nine Cx transcripts of thirteen Cxs tested were detected. In the corpus epididymis, the highest levels of Cxs31.1 and 37 transcripts were observed at 45 days of age, and amounts of Cxs26, 30.3, and 32 transcripts increased with age and subsequently decreased in the elderly. Expression of Cx31 was greatly increased in the adult and elder stages, while Cxs40, 43, and 45 were abundant in the early postnatal stages. In the cauda epididymis, expression of Cxs26, 30.3, 31.1, 37, and 40 reached the highest levels at 5 months of age. The levels of Cxs31 and 32 mRNAs fluctuated throughout the postnatal period. The amounts of Cxs43 and 45 transcripts were more abundant during the late neonatal and prepubertal ages than later ages. These findings suggest that regional specification of the epididymis is partly regulated by differential expression of Cx genes during the postnatal developmental period.
Keywords
Connexin; Corpus epididymis; Cauda epididymis; Postnatal development; Gene expression;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 2  (Citation Analysis)
연도 인용수 순위
1 Cry, D. G., Hermo, I. and Laird, D. W. 1996. Immunocytochemical localization and regulation of connexin43 in the adult rat epididymis. Endocrinology. 137:1474-1484.   DOI
2 Dube, E., Dufresne, J., Chan, P. T. and Cyr, D. G. 2012. Epidermal growth factor regulates connexin 43 in the human epididymis: role of gap junctions in azoospermia. Hum. Reprod. 27:2285-2296.   DOI
3 Dufresne, J., Finnson, K. W., Gregory, M. and Cyr, D. G. 2003. Expression of multiple connexins in the rat epididymis indicates a complex regulation of gap junctional communication. Am. J. Physiol. Cell. Physiol. 284:C33-C43.   DOI   ScienceOn
4 Goldberg, G. S., Valiunas, V. and Brink, P. R. 2004. Selective permeability of gap junction channels. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1662:96-101.   DOI   ScienceOn
5 Han, S.-Y. and Lee, K.-H. 2013. The expression patterns of connexin isoforms in the rat caput epididymis during postnatal development. J. Ani. Sci. Tech. 55:249-255.   DOI   ScienceOn
6 Hess, R. A., Fernandes, S. A. F., Gomes, G. R. O., Oliveira, C. A., Lazari, M. F. M. and Porto, C. S. 2011. Estrogen and its receptors in efferent ductules and epididymis. J. Androl. 32:600-613.   DOI   ScienceOn
7 Huynh, H. T., Alpert, L., Laird, D. W., Batist, G., Chalifour, L. and Alaoui-Jamali, M. A. 2001. Regulation of the gap junction connexin 43 gene by androgens in the prostate. J. Mol. Endocrinol. 26:1-10.   DOI   ScienceOn
8 Juneja, S. C. 2003. mRNA expression pattern of multiple members of connexin gene family in normal and abnormal fetal gonads in mouse. Indian J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 47:147-156.
9 Lydka, M., Kopera-Sobota, I., Kotula-Balak, M., Chojnacka, K., Zak, D. and Bilinska, B. 2011. Morphological and functional alterations in adult boar epididymis: Effects of prenatal and postnatal administration of flutamide. Acta Vet. Scand. 53:12.   DOI   ScienceOn
10 Meda, P., Pepper, M. S., Traub, O., Willecke, K., Gros, D., Beyer, E., Nicholson, B., Paul, D. and Orci, L. 1993. Differential expression of gap junction connexins in endocrine and exocrine glands. Endocrinology. 133:2371-2378.   DOI
11 Mehta, P. P., Perez-Stable, C., Nadji, M., Mian, M., Asotra, K. and Roos, B. A. 1999. Suppression of human prostate cancer cell growth by forced expression of connexin genes. Dev. Genet. 24:91-110.   DOI
12 Meşe, G., Richard, G. and White, T. W. 2007. Gap junctions: basic structure and function. J. Invest. Dermatol. 127:2516-2524.   DOI   ScienceOn
13 Plum, A., Hallas, G., Magin, T., Dombrowski, F., Hagendorff, A., Schumacher, B., Wolpert, C., Kim, J., Lamers, W. H., Evert, M., Meda, P., Traub, O. and Wilecke, K. 2000. Unique and shared functions of different connexins in mouse. Curr. Biol. 10:1083-1091.   DOI   ScienceOn
14 Pointis, G., Fiorini, C., Defamie, N. and Segretain, D. 2005. Gap junctional communication in the male reproductive system. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1719:102-116.   DOI   ScienceOn
15 Pointis, G., Gileron, J., Carette, D. and Segretain, D. 2010. Physiological and physiopathological aspects of connexins and communicating gap junctions in spermatogenesis. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B. Biol. Sci. 365:1607-1620.   DOI   ScienceOn
16 Prinsac, G. S., Birch, L., Habermann, H., Chang, W. Y., Tebeau, C., Putz, O. and Bieberich, C. 2001. Influence of neonatal estrogens on rat prostate development. Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 13:241-252.   DOI   ScienceOn
17 Robaire, B. and Hermo, L. 1988. Efferent ducts, epididymis and vas deferens: structure, functions and their regulation. In: The Physiologyof Reproduction. (Eds: E. Knobil and J. Neil) Raven Press. New York pp.999-1080.
18 Robaire, B., Hinton, B. T. and Orgebin-Crist, M. C. 2006. The epididymis. In: The Physiology of Reproduction. (Eds: E. Knobil and J. Neil) Elsevier. New York pp.1071-1148.
19 Seo, H. -J., Seon, C. -W., Choi, I., Cheon, Y. -P., Cheon, T. -H. and Lee, K. -H. 2010. Expressional profiling of connexin isoforms in the initial segment of the male reproductive tract during postnatal development. Reprod. Dev. Biol. 34:103-109.
20 Segretain, D. and Falk, M. M. 2004. Regulation of connexin biosynthesis, assembly, gap junction formation, and removal. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1662:3-21.   DOI   ScienceOn
21 St-Pierre, N., Dufresne, J., Rooney, A. A. and Cyr, D. G. 2003. Neonatal hypothyroidism alters the localization of gapjunctional protein connexin 43 in the testis and messenger RNA levels in the epididymis of the rat. Biol. Reprod. 68:1232-1240.   DOI
22 Sullivan, R. 2004. Male fertility markers, myth or reality. Ani. Reprod. Sci. 82-83:341-347.   DOI   ScienceOn
23 Tomsig, J. L. and Turner, T. T. 2006. Growth factors and the epididymis. J. Androl. 27:348-357.   DOI   ScienceOn
24 Yamashita, S. 2004. Localization of estrogen and androgen receptors in male reproductive tissues of mice and rats. Anat. Rec. 279A:768-778.   DOI
25 Yu, Z., Guo, R., Ge, Y., Ma, J., Guan, J., Li, S., Sun, X., Xue, S. and Han, D. 2003. Gene expression profiles in different stages of mouse spermatogenic cells during spermatogenesis. Biol. Reprod. 69:34-47.
26 Cry, D. G. 2011. Connexins and pannexins: coordinating cellular communication in the testis and epididymis. Spermatogenesis.1:325-338.   DOI   ScienceOn
27 Arroteia, K. F., Garcia, P. V., Barbieri, M. F., Justino, M. L. and Pereira, L. A. V. 2012. The epididymis: embryology, structure, function and its role in fertilization and infertility. In: Embryology- Updates and Highlights on Classic Topics. (Ed: L. A. V. Pereira) In Tech. Croatia pp.41-66.
28 Beyer, E. C., Davis, L. M., Saffitz, J. E. and Veenstra, R. D. 1995. Cardiac intercellular communication: consequences of connexin distribution and diversity. Braz. J. Med. Biol. Res. 28:415-425.