title: L-prostaglandin D synthase expression and regulation in mouse testis and epididymis during sexual maturation and testosterone treatment after castration.
abstract: Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) is highly expressed in the adult testis and epididymis of many mammals. The present study was to investigate L-PGDS expression in mouse testis and epididymis during sexual maturation, and the effects of testosterone replacement on L-PGDS expression in epididymis by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Both L-PGDS mRNA and protein were highly expressed in the interstitial tissue of adult testis. L-PGDS mRNA was first detected on d 30 after birth and exhibited an abundant signal in adult caput and cauda epididymis. L-PGDS immunostaining was first observed on d 30 after birth. There was a strong level of L-PGDS immunostaining in adult epididymis. Castrated male mice were treated with either vehicle or testosterone propionate following 3 d postcastration. L-PGDS expression steadily declined in a time-dependent fashion in control groups. No L-PGDS mRNA expression or immunostaining was detected in the controls for 12 d. When the castrated mice were treated with testosterone propionate for 5 or 12 d, L-PGDS expression was significantly increased in the whole epididymis. These data suggest that L-PGDS expression in mouse epididymis gradually declined in parallel to the declining concentration of endogenous androgen after castration and increased with the treatment of exogenous testosterone, indicating that L-PGDS expression in mouse epididymis was modulated by androgen levels. However, differential expression in different areas of the epididymis may also be influenced by factors derived from the testis.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Xing-Hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Nathaniel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: Zeng-Ming
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004822:Epididymis / Q000201:enzymology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D054834:Lipocalins; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009919:Orchiectomy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000201:enzymology*; D043343:Testosterone Propionate / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D054834:Lipocalins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; C022466:prostaglandin R2 D-isomerase; D043343:Testosterone Propionate