title: The expression of aquaporins 1 and 9 in adult rat epididymis is perturbed by chronic exposure to ethanol.
abstract: Aquaporins (AQPs), notably AQP-1 and AQP-9, may contribute to reabsorption of fluid and solute across the epididymis. Ethanol is related to be a toxicant affecting directly or indirectly the epididymis and the sperm motility. This study examined the expression of AQP-1 and AQP-9 in adult epididymis of the UChA and UChB 10% (v/v) ethanol-preferring rats, focusing the ethanol-induced hormonal disturbances upon the regulation of these AQPs. Chronic ethanol intake significantly decreased body weight, while UChA and UChB rats displayed a marked loss of epididymal weights. Both ethanol-consuming animals had a severe reduction of testosterone levels, whereas LH and 17β-estradiol were unchanged. Throughout the epididymis, a strong reaction to AQP-1 was observed in myoid and endothelial cells of the UChB ethanol-preferring rats, differently from a moderate intensity in the initial segment of the UChA rats. In addition, AQP-9 showed a strong immunoreaction in the apical membrane of principal cells at initial segment. In cauda epididymis, the level of AQP-9 was reduced along the microvillus projections in both UChA and UChB rats compared to controls. We conclude that chronic ethanol consumption modulates the androgen levels, thereby modifying the expression pattern of AQP-1 and 9 in the epididymis.
authors: Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biosciences, UNESP-University Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. giovana@ibb.unesp.br
authors: Giovana R
authors: GR
authors: Teixeira
authors: Luiz Gustavo A
authors: LG
authors: Chuffa
authors: Otávio A
authors: OA
authors: Martins
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Kremer
authors: Patrícia Fernanda F
authors: PF
authors: Pinheiro
authors: Wilson
authors: W
authors: de Mello Júnior
authors: Marcelo
authors: M
authors: Martinez
authors: Francisco E
authors: FE
authors: Martinez
authors: Raquel F
authors: RF
authors: Domeniconi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051398:Aquaporin 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020346:Aquaporins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: C496022:Aqp1 protein, rat; C491637:Aqp9 protein, rat; D020346:Aquaporins; D051398:Aquaporin 1; D000431:Ethanol; D013739:Testosterone