• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제31권10호
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• pp.1591-1597
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• 2018

Objective: Selenium-independent glutathione peroxidase (GPx5) is specifically expressed in the mammalian epididymis and plays an important role in protecting sperm from reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation damage. This study investigates GPx5 expression in the epididymis of Small Tail Han sheep. Methods: GPx5 expression was studied in three age groups: lamb (2 to 3 months), young (8 to 10 months), and adult (18 to 24 months). The epididymis of each age group divided into caput, corpus and cauda, respectively. Analysis the expression quantity of GPx5 in epididymis and testis by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Finally, GPx5 protein locating in the epididymis by immunohistochemical. Results: The results demonstrate that in the lamb group, the GPx5 mRNA, but not protein, can be detected. GPx5 mRNA and expressed protein were detected in both the young and adult groups. Moreover, both the mRNA and protein levels of GPx5 were significantly higher in the young group than in other two groups. When the different segments of epididymis were investigated, GPx5 mRNA was expressed in each segment of epididymis regardless of age. Additionally, the mRNA level in the caput was significantly higher than that in corpus and cauda within same age group. The GPx5 protein was in the epithelial cells' cytoplasm. However, GPx5 mRNA and protein were not detected in the testis. Conclusion: These results suggest that GPx5 is mainly expressed in the epididymis of Small Tail Han sheep, and that the expression level of GPx5 is associated with age. Additionally, GPx5 was primarily expressed in the epithelial cells of the caput. Taken together, these studies indicate that GPx5 is expressed in the epididymis in all age grades.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.245-255
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• 2021

The spermatozoa become mature in the epididymis which is divided into initial segment and caput, corpus, and cauda epididymis. The water movement across the epididymal epithelium is important for creating luminal microenvironment for sperm maturation. Aquaporins (Aqps) are water channel proteins, and expression of Aqps is regulated by androgens. The current research was focused to examine expressional regulation of Aqp1 and Aqp9 by an androgenic-anabolic steroid, nandrolone decanoate (ND). The ND at the low dose (2 mg/kg body weight/week) or high dose (10 mg) was subcutaneously administrated into male rats for 2 or 12 weeks. Transcript levels of Aqp1 and Aqp9 were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses. In the initial segment, level of Aqp1 was decreased with 12 week-treatment, while Aqp9 level was decreased by the high dose treatment for 12 weeks. In the caput epididymis, Aqp9 expression was decreased by the low dose treatment. The 2 week-treatment resulted in an increase of Aqp1 level but a decrease of Aqp9 expression in the corpus epididymis. In the corpus epididymis, the 12 week-treatment at the low dose caused the reduction of Aqp1 and Aqp9 levels, but the high dose treatment resulted in an increase of Aqp1 expression and a decrease of Aqp9 level. In the cauda epididymis, Aqp1 expression was decreased by 2 and 12 week-treatments, while increases of Aqp9 levels was detected with the high dose treatment for 2 weeks and with 12 week-treatment. These findings indicate differential regulation of Aqp1 and Aqp9 expression among epididymal segments by ND.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.379-389
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• 2017

Connexin (Cx) involves in the regulation of various physiological functions of tissue by forming a channel, a gap junction which allows direct cell-cell communication, between adjacent cells. The effect of a single subcutaneous treatment of estradiol benzoate (EB) or flutamide (Flu) at the weaning age on the expression of Cx isoforms in the adult caput epididymis was evaluated in this research. Using quantitative real-time PCR analysis, a low-dose of EB [$0.015{\mu}g/kg$ body weight (BW)] caused significant decreases of Cx30.3, Cx32, Cx40, Cx43, and Cx45 mRNA levels and no change of Cx26, Cx31, Cx31.1, Cx37 transcript levels. The treatment of a high-dose EB ($1.5{\mu}g/kg\;BW$) resulted in reduced expression of Cx30.3, Cx31, Cx43, and Cx45 but increased expression of Cx37 and Cx40. Expression of all Cx isoforms examined, except Cx31, was significantly increased by the treatment of a low-dose Flu ($500{\mu}g/kg\;BW$). However, the treatment of a high-dose Flu (5 mg/kg BW) led significant expressional suppression of Cx30.3, Cx31, Cx31.1, Cx32, Cx40, Cx43, and Cx45 but an increase of Cx37 transcript level. With the comparison of previous findings, the expression of Cx isoforms in the adult epididymis after the exposure to EB or Flu is likely differentially regulated in regional-specific and/or exposed postnatal age-specific manner.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.117-124
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• 1997

Guanidinoacetate N-methyltransferase (GAMT) catalyzes the last step of creatine biosynthesis and the resultant creatine plays an important role in cellular energy metabolism. GAMT is mainly found in liver, kidney as well as testis and epididymis. We have localized the site of creatine biosynthesis in mouse epididymis by immunoperoxidase staining of GAMT using anti-GAMT antibody. Gamt is extensively expressed in the microvilli of epididymal epithelial cells and also expressed weakly in the cyto plasm of the cells. The staining of GAMT was most prominent in the microvilli of proximal caput epididymis and the intensity was progressively diminished as the epididymal tubule proceeds toward caudal part. The result suggests that GAMT or Cr might be involved in sperm function and/or maturation process in epididymis.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.55-61
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• 2009

The epididymis in the male reproductive tract is the site where spermatozoa produced from the testis become mature. The epididymis is divided into 4 different segments, initial segment and caput, corpus, and caudal epididymis, depending upon functional and morphological features. Aquaporins (Aqps) are water channel molecules, which are present in the epididymis and play a major role in removal of epididymal water, resulting in creation of microenvironment for sperm maturation and concentration of sperms. Nandrolone decanoate (ND) is a synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid, which is used to treat clinical diseases and improve physical ability and appearance. Even though it is well determined that the ND causes the male infertility by affecting the testis, little is known the effect of the ND on the epididymis. The present study was focused to examine the effect of ND at different treatment doses and periods on expression of Aqp1 and Aqp9 genes in the epididymis of pubertal rats. Results showed that mRNA expression of Aqp1 and Aqp9 genes among the parts of the epididymis was differentially regulated by ND treatment doses. In addition, treatment periods of ND caused differential expression of Aqp1 and Aqp9 mRNAs among segments of the epididymis. Therefore, it is believed that male infertility induced by ND could be resulted not only from malfunction of the testis but also from aberrant gene expression of Aqp1 and Aqp9 in the epididymis.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.23-36
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• 1990

Several types of the epithelial cells were classified by ultrastructural observation through transmission electron microscope in the rat epididymis. Ultrastructural studies showed that the principal cells, basal cells and narrow cells are located in all the regions of the epididymis and the light cells are present only in the corpus and cauda epididymis. It was observed that the columnar epithelial cells like the principal cells, light cells and narrow cells contain several secretory vesicles and there are halo cells migrating in the several regions. The basal cells showed the elliptical forms in the caput and corpus region and the global forms in the cauda region.

• 한국동물학회지
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.78-93
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• 1990

생쥐가 성숙하는 동안 부정소 상피세포의 분화와 부정소액의 분비 및 흡수와 관련된 미세구조의 변화를 알아보고자, 생후 10, 20, 35 그리고 80일 된 생쥐에서 부정소 상피세포를 전자현미경으로 관찰하였다. 생쥐 부정소의 분화과정은 미세구조의 특징에 따라 생후 20일가지의 미분화기, 생후 35일 전후의 성장 및 분화기, 그리고 성체의 성숙기로 구분되었다. 각 시기는 정소에서 세정관의 강소 형성시기 그리고 정소액과 더불어 정자가 부정소에 유입되는 시기와 밀접한 관계가 있었다. 성체의 부정소 상피세포 중 주세포는 두부 부정소 기부에서 흡수 기능을 갖는 구조였고, 두부의 말부와 체부 그리고 미부에서는 조면소포체와 골지체가 발달되어 단백질 합성과 분비가 왕성한 구조로 관찰되었다. 투명세포는 주로 체부와 미부에 존재하였으며 세포질내에 흡수과립이 많이 존재하였고, 그 속에는 정자에서 분리된 세포질 잔기로 사료되는 막구조물이 관찰되었다. 부정소 부위에 따라 상피세포의 종류와 분포가 달랐고, 동일한 종류이 상피세포라도 부위별로 미세구조가 다르게 관찰되었다.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.189-195
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• 1987

This study was conducted in order to obtain the information of the histological changes in each of six segments of the epididymal ducts in Korean native goats. Thirty-two Korean native male goats were examined, dividing into seven groups, at 4 weeks intervals from 8 to 32 weeks of age. The results obtained were as follows. 1. The epididymal ducts showed histologically an abrupt growth at the age of 16 weeks being followed by almost full maturation at the age of 24 weeks. Diameter of the cauda was steadily larger than that of the caput and corpus of the epididymal ducts. 2. Spermatozoa in the lumen of epididymal ducts were first observable at the age of 16 weeks, thereafter showing sparse in the lumen of caput, whereas most dense in the lumen of cauda in the density of spermatozoa. 3. Ducts in the caput and corpus were lined by ciliated columnar epithelium until the age of 12 weeks, and later by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium which was composed of ciliated columnar cells, clear cells and basal cells. Ducts of cauda epididymis were lined by simple ciliated columnar epithelia until 12 weeks of age and later by simple or pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium, and two types of ducts (small ducts with high epithelium and large ducts with lower epithelium) were noted. Nucleus of the epithelial cells in the caput were located in the base of cells but in the corpus and cauda, those were located in the mid part of cells. cilia were most developed in the epithelia of the corpus.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.153-159
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• 2003

Localization of mercury compounds was investigated in selective regions of the male reproductive tract using autometallography. The results demonstrated that mercury was observed in Sertoli and Leydig cells in testis, but not in the epithelial cells of rete testis and germ cells. In the efferent ductule, mercury compounds were observed in the cytoplasmic compartments of epithelial cells in the proximal and common regions, while they were observed in the supranuclear cytoplasmic compartments in the conus region. In the epididymis, the compounds were observed in the cytoplasmic compariments of narrow and basal cells, but not in the principal cells of the initial segment. In contrast, the compounds were evenly detected in the cytoplasmic compartments of principal cells in the caput. In the corpus and caudal epididymis, the compounds were observed in the basal region of principal cells. The data shows that mercury is differentially accumulated in the male reproductive tract in a region-specific manner.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제51권6호
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• pp.493-502
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• 2009

Glucose is a major source of metabolic fuel and lipid and protein syntheses. Transport of glucose into the cell is regulated by an action of glucose transport.associated transporters, especially solute carriers 2A (Slc2a, protein symbol GLUT). The present study was focused on examination of mRNA expression of various Slc2a isoforms in the epididymis during postnatal development. Total RNAs isolated from different epididymal segments (caput, corpus, and caudal epididymis) were utilized for real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses. Results showed that Slc2a 1, 3, 4, 5, and 8 were expressed in the entire epididymal regions. In addition, the abundance of these Slc2a isoforms' transcripts was different within each epididymal regions. Moreover, the present study showed differential expression of these Slc2a isoforms among different epididymal segments according to postnatal ages. The current study suggests that glucose transport in the epididymis via various Slc2a isoforms would be necessary for maintenance of the epididymal functions.