Epididymal epithelium immortalized by simian virus 40 large T antigen: a model to study epididymal gene expression.
Primary cultures of the differentiated, adult epididymal duct epithelium were immortalized by retroviral transduction with the simian virus (SV)40 large T antigen. The canine epididymis was chosen here as a model with high human relevance, representing a convenient and acceptable source of differentiated epididymal tissue and, compared to other animal models, expressing a relatively large number of gene products which are also expressed by the human epididymis. To determine whether the immortalized canine epididymal (IMCE) cells retained a phenotype comparable to the original tissue, epithelial cytokeratins, various epididymal transcription factors as well as mRNAs encoding abundant epididymal secretory proteins, were studied as molecular markers. All IMCE populations obtained after transduction were of epithelial origin. The nuclear androgen receptor (AR) and the polyoma enhancer activator (PEA3), as well as the epididymal mRNA encoding the canine counterparts of human HE1, HE4 and HE5/CD52 epididymal mRNA, were retained in all populations tested. The majority of tested clones were oestrogen receptor ERalpha-positive, but ERbeta-negative, while one ERalpha-negative cell population was positive for ERbeta. The IMCE populations described thus represent useful permanent tools for studying gene expression of the epididymal duct epithelium, and for other types of experiments, examples including drug effects and toxicity on the epididymis.
Telgmann
R
R
IHF, Institute for Hormone and Fertility Research at the University, Grandweg 24, D-22529 Hamburg, Germany.
Brosens
J J
JJ
Käppler-Hanno
K
K
Ivell
R
R
Kirchhoff
C
C
D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming / Q000235:genetics*; D000074301:CD52 Antigen; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed / Q000821:virology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004285:Dogs; D030501:Epididymal Secretory Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004822:Epididymis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000821:virology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; D023083:beta-Defensins
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming; D000074301:CD52 Antigen; C000613862:CD52 protein, human; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C426184:DEFB126 protein, human; D030501:Epididymal Secretory Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; C104585:NPC2 protein, human; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D014157:Transcription Factors; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; D023083:beta-Defensins; C065788:transcription factor PEA3