Region- and cell-specific differences in the distribution of carbonic anhydrases II, III, XII, and XIV in the adult rat epididymis.

We employed RT-PCR followed by light microscope immunocytochemistry on St. Marie's- and Bouin's-fixed tissues to define the distribution of carbonic anhydrase (CA) isoforms in the male reproductive tract. The data revealed that CA II, III, IV, XII, and XIV were expressed in rat epididymis. Whereas CA III was found in principal cells of all epididymal regions, CA II was localized in narrow cells of the initial segment and principal cells of all regions. CA XII expression was most intense in the corpus and proximal cauda regions, where it appeared over the basolateral plasma membranes of principal cells. Narrow cells of the initial segment also revealed intense reactions, as did basal cells of the corpus and proximal cauda regions. Principal cells of the initial segment and proximal caput regions showed diffuse apical cytosolic reactions and occasional basolateral staining for CA XIV, whereas principal cells of distal regions showed more diffuse cytosolic reactions highlighting both apical and basal regions of the cell, with basal cells also being reactive. These data suggest subtle differences in cell type and subcellular- and region-specific distributions for CAs in their role of fine-tuning pH in the lumen, cell cytosol, and intervening intercellular spaces of the epididymis.