title: Characterization of primary cultures of adult human epididymis epithelial cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish cultures of epithelial cells from all regions of the human epididymis to provide reagents for molecular approaches to functional studies of this epithelium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental laboratory study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University research institute.
  
  
  METHODS
  Epididymis from seven patients undergoing orchiectomy for suspected testicular cancer without epididymal involvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human epididymis epithelial cells harvested from adult epididymis tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Establishment of a robust culture protocol for adult human epididymal epithelial cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cultures of caput, corpus, and cauda epithelial cells were established from epididymis tissue of seven donors. Cells were passaged up to eight times and maintained differentiation markers. They were also cryopreserved and recovered successfully. Androgen receptor, clusterin, and cysteine-rich secretory protein 1 were expressed in cultured cells, as shown by means of immunofluorescence, Western blot, and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The distribution of other epididymis markers was also shown by means of qRT-PCR. Cultures developed transepithelial resistance (TER), which was androgen responsive in the caput but androgen insensitive in the corpus and cauda, where unstimulated TER values were much higher.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results demonstrate a robust in vitro culture system for differentiated epithelial cell types in the caput, corpus, and cauda of the human epididymis. These cells will be a valuable resource for molecular analysis of epididymis epithelial function, which has a pivotal role in male fertility.
authors.affiliation: Human Molecular Genetics Program, Lurie Children's Research Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Shih-Hsing
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Leir
authors.affiliation: Human Molecular Genetics Program, Lurie Children's Research Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Browne
authors.affiliation: Section of Urology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Scott E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Eggener
authors.affiliation: Human Molecular Genetics Program, Lurie Children's Research Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois. Electronic address: ann-harris@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D016764:Cell Polarity; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051152:Clusterin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004822:Epididymis / Q000166:cytology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D053533:Keratin-8 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009919:Orchiectomy; D061251:Primary Cell Culture / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C495242:CLU protein, human; C103538:CRISP1 protein, human; D051152:Clusterin; C426203:KRT8 protein, human; D053533:Keratin-8; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins
keywords: Epididymis epithelial cell culture: caput; cauda; corpus