We studied the expression and distribution of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) isoforms in the rat male accessory sex glands and the epididymis. Our data demonstrate the expression of both TGF-beta1 and -beta3 isoforms in ventral prostate (VP), seminal vesicle (SV), coagulating gland (CG), and epididymis (E) by Northern blot analysis. In addition, there was differential expression of ...

The effect of breast cancer resistance protein (Bcrp/Abcg2) on the disposition of the phytoestrogens daidzein, genistein, and coumestrol was investigated using Bcrp(-/-) mice. Expression of the genes for either mouse Bcrp or human BCRP in MDCK II cells induced apically directed transport of the three phytoestrogens, whereas their transcellular transport was identical in mock and LLC-PK1 cells e...

BACKGROUND Solid tumor metastasis to the epididymis is a rare occurrence and is mostly discovered incidentally at autopsy or after therapeutic orchidectomy for prostate cancer. Other primary carcinomas that have been demonstrated to metastasize to the paratesticular region include those originating in the stomach, kidney, ileum, and colon. CASE PRESENTATION A 72-year-old gentleman presented w...

Insulin-like growth factor plays a paracrine/autocrine role in regulating testicular function in the stallion, but its presence in the equine epididymis remains unknown. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) are localized in the caput, corpus, and cauda of the epididymis in an age-dependent manner. Immediately afte...

The epididymal anomalies and patent processus vaginalis are frequently seen in patients with cryptorchidism or hydrocele. We performed a prospective study on the relationship between the epididymal anomalies and the patency of the processus vaginalis in boys with hydrocele (190 cases) or cryptorchidism (89 cases) who were treated from August 1997 to February 2000 (mean age, 51 months; range, 12...

The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) system is expressed and can exert its biological role in the male reproductive system including the maintenance of morphological structure and function of the epididymis. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between the PDGF system and seasonal changes in morphology of the wild ground squirrel epididymis during the breeding and nonbreed...

The activities of steroid sulphatase (StS) and estrogen sulphotransferase (EST) were determined in the epididymis of 18 boars. The animals were divided into three groups (n=6) according to age (8, 12 and 16 months). The boars were anesthetized and castrated. The tissue samples of different epididymal parts (caput, corpus and cauda) were taken and homogenized. Activities of StS and EST were asse...

Maturation of spermatozoa, including the acquisition of motility and the ability to undergo capacitation, occurs during transit through the dynamic environment of the epididymis. The microenvironments created along the length of the epididymal tubule are essential to the molecular modifications of spermatozoa that result in fertile gametes. The secretory and resorptive processes of the epitheli...

The fertilizing sperm's lengthiest unchartered voyage is through the longest, least-investigated organ in a man's body - the Epididymis. Over six meters long in men, ~80 meters in stallions and over one-hundred times a mouse's body length, there are few functions known aside from sperm storage and nutrition. While spermatogenesis is completed in the testes, here we demonstrate sperm centriole r...

Polysialic acid (polySia) attached to the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) regulates inter alia the proliferation and differentiation via the interactions with neurotrophins. Since in postnatal epididymis neurotrophins and their receptors like the Low-Affinity Nerve Growth Factor Receptor p75 and TrK B receptor are expressed, we wanted to analyze if the polysialylation of NCAM is also invol...