[Expression of human epididymis protein 2beta1 in the testis and epididymis of adolescent male rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of human epididymal secretary protein 2 isoform human epididymal protein 2beta1(HE2beta1) in the testis and epididymis of adolescent male rats along with its significance.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression and localization of HE2beta1 in the testis and epididymis of 15 adolescent SD rats.


RESULTS
HE2beta1 immunoreactive staining was detected in the testis and epididymis. In the epithelia of the epididymal duct, HE2beta1 expressed mainly in the supranuclear region of the principle cells and the basement membrane of some epithelial cells; there were no immunostaining in the n clear cells, halo cells and basal cells. The immunopositive reaction was detected, weak in the distal caput, strong in the proximal, middle corpus and the cauda, but negative in the initial segment. Immunopositive results of HE2beta1 were also observed in some of the nuclei of spermatogonia and Sertoli cells with negatively-stained cytoplasm.


CONCLUSIONS
Immunohistochemical staining is a fairly sensitive method for detecting HE2beta1 expression. The localization and expression level of HE2beta1 in the genital duct of adolescent male rats exhibited a region- and cell-specific expression pattern, which suggests that HE2beta1 may play an important role in spermatogenesis, maturation and epididymal epithelial innate defense mechanisms.
Tian
Hong
H
Department of Anatomy, Histology & Embryology, Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
Qiu
Shu-dong
SD
Zhang
Qiu-yang
QY
Xue
Xia
X
Ge
Ling
L
Wang
Li-rong
LR
D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006020:Glycopeptides / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D006020:Glycopeptides; C087044:SPAG11A protein, human