title: Expression and localization of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 subunits in the adult rat epididymis.
abstract: The epididymal epithelium contributes to formation of a luminal fluid that is essential for the protection of spermatozoa from a variety of insults including changes in oxygen tension. A key regulator of the response to oxygen debt in many cells is hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1). A transcription factor composed of alpha and beta subunits, HIF-1 activates genes that mediate oxygen homeostasis and cell survival pathways or trigger cell death responses. Previously we have shown that HIF-1alpha mRNA is expressed in the adult rat epididymis. Goals of this study were to determine whether HIF-1alpha protein is activated by ischemia in the rat epididymis, to determine whether epididymal HIF-1alpha mRNA expression is androgen dependent, and to identify epididymal cell types expressing HIF-1alpha and beta. Immunoblot analysis revealed that HIF-1alpha protein is primarily present in corpus and cauda of the normoxic epididymis and unaffected by ischemia, whereas HIF-1beta was detected equally in all regions and also unaffected by ischemia. HIF-1alpha mRNA expression in all regions was not affected by 15 days bilateral orchiectomy. Principal cells stained positive for HIF-1alpha by immunocytochemistry, with the epithelium of initial segment and caput epididymidis staining less intensely than corpus and cauda. HIF-1beta immunoreactivity was equally present in principal cells in all regions. Clear, narrow, and basal cells were unreactive for HIF-1alpha and beta. The presence of HIF-1 in normoxic epididymis and the regional distribution of HIF-1alpha suggests fundamental differences in how proximal and distal regions of the epididymis maintain oxygen homeostasis to protect the epithelium and spermatozoa from hypoxia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Monmouth University, West Long Branch, New Jersey 07764, USA. mpalladi@monmouth.edu
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Palladino
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Korah
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hermo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051784:Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Nuclear Translocator; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007511:Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000378:metabolism*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C497398:ARNT protein, rat; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051784:Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Nuclear Translocator; D013739:Testosterone