Regulated upon activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted originating from the epididymis differentially associates with viable and defective spermatozoa.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression and cellular distribution of regulated upon activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) in the male reproductive system.


METHODS
Basic research.


METHODS
University academic medical center.


METHODS
Three adult male organ donors.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), in situ hybridization, immunohistochemical staining, and immunofluorescence staining were used to examine the distribution of RANTES in human and mouse epididymis. Western blot was used to quantitate the levels of RANTES expression in mouse epididymis on postnatal days. Immunofluorescence staining was applied to detect RANTES association with spermatozoa from mouse epididymis.


RESULTS
The location of RANTES was restricted to ciliated cells of the efferent duct and apical, narrow, and basal cells of the epididymal ducts, in both humans and mouse. RANTES-positive basal cells were only identified in the epididymal ducts in humans. The signals of RANTES were first detected on day 28 and increased during mouse sexual maturation. We also observed that RANTES was bound on both normal and defective epididymal sperm, but in different patterns.


CONCLUSIONS
RANTES is constitutively expressed in the epididymis and secreted into the lumen of epididymis throughout sexual maturity, and differentially associates with viable and defective spermatozoa.
Li
Zhen
Z
Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China.
Sun
Zhi-jian
ZJ
Liao
Cheng-gong
CG
Ma
Li
L
Ma
Bing-fang
BF
Zhang
Yuan-qiang
YQ
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*
C483024:CCL5 protein, human; D018946:Chemokine CCL5