Immunohistochemical expressions of estrogen and progesterone receptors in human epididymis at different ages--a preliminary study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the biological significance of sex steroidal actions in human epididymis at various stages.


METHODS
Human epididymides were obtained from 20 males aged from 2 days to 81 years at autopsy. Immunohistochemical staining for estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) was conducted using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections of epididymides, by the avidinbiotin-peroxidase complex method.


RESULTS
Positive immunohistochemical staining of ER was detected in the nucleus of epididymal epithelia in 14- to 64-year-old men, while in males aged from neonatal to 12 years, and over 65 years, ER was not detected in epididymides. On the other hand, PR was not detected in epididymis in any cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Estrogen might contribute to reproductive epididymal functions after puberty and during maturity via estrogen-ER cascades.
Misao
R
R
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gifu University School of Medicine, Japan.
Fujimoto
J
J
Niwa
K
K
Morishita
S
S
Nakanishi
Y
Y
Tamaya
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004822:Epididymis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone