title: Oestrogenic regulation and differential expression of WNT4 in the bonnet monkey and rodent epididymis.
abstract: A role for oestrogen in regulating fluid reabsorption in the monkey epididymis was recently demonstrated. Here, these studies are extended to identify potential oestrogen-regulated proteins in the cauda region of monkey epididymis treated with vehicle and oestrogen receptor antagonist (ICI 182780). Two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis was used to identify the proteins. The results indicated down-regulation of WNT4 in the ICI-182780-treated monkey cauda. In addition, the Wnt4 mRNA concentration was also reduced in the caput regions of ICI-182780- treated rats and oestrogen receptor knockout mice. WNT4 is a key regulator of gonadal differentiation in humans and mice and plays a pivotal role in early mouse embryogenesis. The results of the present study establish the presence of WNT4 in the monkey epididymis and its regulation by oestrogen, and suggest a role for WNT4 in maintaining epididymal homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Biology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Research Centre, New York, NY 10021, USA.
authors.forename: Shayu N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Deshpande
authors.forename: Govindaraj
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vijayakumar
authors.forename: A Jagannadha
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D004822:Epididymis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D008255:Macaca radiata / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D060528:Wnt4 Protein
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004967:Estrogens; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; C555581:WNT4 protein, human; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D060528:Wnt4 Protein; C555582:Wnt4 protein, mouse; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D004958:Estradiol