Expression of estrogen receptors in the efferent ductule of male sheep fetuses during gestation.
There is as yet no report about the developmental changes of estrogen receptors (ERs) in the male reproductive system of the sheep fetus. In the present study, the testis, efferent ductule, and epididymis of sheep fetuses were collected at days 70, 90, and 120 of gestation and in the newborn lamb. ER alpha (ERalpha) and ER beta (ERbeta) were detected by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that ERbeta staining was negative in all of the examined tissues throughout gestation, whereas ERalpha immunoreactivity was only located in the nuclei of the efferent ductule epithelium. In addition, both ERalpha staining intensity and the number of ERalpha-positive cells were higher at day 90 of gestation, compared with that at day 70 and at birth. These results suggest that estrogen may play important roles in efferent ductule development in sheep fetuses.
Department of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, 100094 Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Xinggui
X
Tian
Sheng
S
Cui
Jiali
J
Liu
Shaoli
S
Yi
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D004543:Ejaculatory Ducts / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D005865:Gestational Age; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012756:Sheep / Q000196:embryology*; D013737:Testis / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta