Concomitant and discrete expressions of aldose reductase and sorbitol dehydrogenase in the male reproductive tract.
This study aimed at investigating the expression and localization of the polyol pathway enzymes; aldose reductase (AR) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), in the male reproductive tract of rat. Gene expression analysis showed maximum expression of AR and SDH in the coagulating glands. Western blot analysis showed a coordinated presence of the two enzymes in the coagulating glands, seminal vesicle and epididymis. Immunohistochemistry showed a concordant expression of the two enzymes in the coagulating gland, which goes well with its function of fructose production in rats. A less concordant expression of the two enzymes in the seminal vesicle was also seen. Discrete expression of AR was seen in the Sertoli cells without SDH. Germ cells including sperm in the seminiferous tubules lacked AR, but SDH was present in all stages of developing germ cells including sperm present in the seminiferous tubules. The epithelial layer of epididymis showed the presence of AR, but it was negligible in vas deferens and prostate. SDH was not seen in the epithelial layer of epididymis, vas deferens or prostate. Though sperm in the seminiferous tubules lacked AR, sperm extracted from cauda showed the presence of both AR and SDH. Immunofluorescence localization of AR and SDH on sperm showed the presence of both the enzymes all over sperm. Discrete expression of AR in the Sertoli cells may be linked to detoxification of a number of metabolism by-products. Similarly, the presence of polyol enzymes on sperm in epididymis and beyond may be to tackle toxic metabolites they may encounter during their journey along the male or female reproductive tract.
Division of Endocrinology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India.
Muktanand
M
Tripathi
Division of Endocrinology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India.
Akhand Pratap
AP
Singh
Division of Endocrinology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India.
Gopal
G
Gupta
Division of Endocrinology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India. Electronic address: rajender_singh@cdri.res.in.
Singh
S
Rajender
D000449:Aldehyde Reductase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D004822:Epididymis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005632:Fructose / Q000378:metabolism; D007064:L-Iditol 2-Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000378:metabolism*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*
D005632:Fructose; D007064:L-Iditol 2-Dehydrogenase; D000449:Aldehyde Reductase
Aldose reductase; Polyol pathway; Sorbitol dehydrogenase; Spermatogenesis