The region-specific functions of two ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase isozymes along the epididymis.
We previously showed that gad mice, which are deficient for ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), have a significantly increased number of defective spermatozoa, suggesting that UCH-L1 functions in sperm quality control during epididymal maturation. The epididymis is the site of spermatozoa maturation, transport and storage. Region-specific functions along the epididymis are essential for establishing the environment required for sperm maturation. We analyzed the region-specific expression of UCH-L1 and UCH-L3 along the epididymis, and also assessed the levels of ubiquitin, which has specificity for UCH-L1. In wild-type mice, western blot analysis demonstrated a high level of UCH-L1 expression in the caput epididymis, consistent with ubiquitin expression, whereas UCH-L3 expression was high in the cauda epididymis. We also investigated the function of UCH-L1 and UCH-L3 in epididymal apoptosis induced by efferent duct ligation. The caput epididymides of gad mice were resistant to apoptotic stress induced by efferent duct ligation, whereas Uchl3 knockout mice showed a marked increase in apoptotic cells following ligation. In conclusion, the response of gad and Uchl3 knockout mice to androgen withdrawal suggests a reciprocal function of the two UCH enzymes in the caput epididymis.
Kwon
Jungkee
J
Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan.
Sekiguchi
Satoshi
S
Wang
Yu-Lai
YL
Setsuie
Rieko
R
Yoshikawa
Yasuhiro
Y
Wada
Keiji
K
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D004822:Epididymis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D025801:Ubiquitin / Q000378:metabolism; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / Q000378:metabolism*
D007527:Isoenzymes; D025801:Ubiquitin; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; C496976:Uchl1 protein, mouse