The epididymis is the site where spermatozoa are matured and stored. After orchidectomy, this tissue loses up to 80% of its weight. In the prostate, androgen withdrawal by orchidectomy is associated with apoptotic cell death. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether apoptotic cell death is involved in the androgen-dependent weight loss found in the rat epididymis after orch...

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn. is one of medicinal plants in Indonesia that is used as a male contraceptive. Hibiscus flower contains flavonoids that can decrease testosterone. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of hibiscus flower extract on the weight of the epididymis, prostate and seminal vesicles, and the thickness of the cauda epididymal epithelium, in male rats. 25 male ...

BACKGROUND The molecular mechanisms implicated in regionalized gene expression in the human epididymis have not yet been fully elucidated. Interestingly, more than 200 microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified in the human epididymis and could be involved in the regulation of mRNA stability and post-transcriptional expression in this organ. METHODS Using a miRNA microarray approach, we investig...

Clear cells express the vacuolar proton-pumping H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase) and acidify the lumen of the epididymis, a process that is essential for male fertility. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) regulates fluid and electrolyte balance in the epididymis, and a previous study showed binding of aldosterone exclusively to epididymal clear cells (Hinton BT, Keefer DA. Steroid Biochem 23...

Dicer1 is an endoribonuclease involved in the biogenesis of functional molecules such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and endogenous small interfering RNAs (endo-siRNAs). These small non-coding RNAs are important regulators of post-transcriptional gene expression and participate in the control of male fertility. With the knowledge that 1) Dicer1-dependent factors are required for proper sperm maturation ...

The general aim of this paper was to characterize some changes induced by androgen receptors blockage in the epithelial cells of the mouse epididymis. The antiandrogen flutamide was injected (10 mg/Kg b.w.) to adult male mice which were sacrificed 24h. and 72h. after. Controls injected with the vehicle (corn oil) were sacrificed at the same intervals. Cryosections were made of the epididymides ...

Objective: To investigate the of epididymal width in identifying non obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and obstructive azoospermia (OA). Methods: Using scrotal ultrasound to compare difference of epididymal width between OA (n=18) and NOA (n=10) patients. Results: In the patients with OA average bilateral epididymal width is 0.7+0.1 cm, which is higher than the NOA patients (P<0.05) by ultrasonic m...

Objective: To investigate the of epididymal width in identifying non obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and obstructive azoospermia (OA). Methods: Using scrotal ultrasound to compare difference of epididymal width between OA (n=18) and NOA (n=10) patients. Results: In the patients with OA average bilateral epididymal width is 0.7+0.1 cm, which is higher than the NOA patients (P<0.05) by ultrasonic m...

Azadirachta indica (Neem) seed oil brings about a significant diminution in spermatozoan motility and density. It leads to reduction of fertility rate in rats and rabbits. The body weight of the animals remain unaffected but the weights of reproductive oranges declined. Reduction of cauda epididymal protein, sialic acid, acid phosphatase and seminal vesicular fructose concentration in rats and ...

Carboxylesterases (CEs) represent a multigene family of serine-dependent enzymes. Male-dependent CEs are over-expressed in the male reproductive tract of different animal species (bivalve mollusks, fruit-flies, and mammals). Here, a novel rat epididymis-specific gene named Ces7 was cloned and characterized. It was a novel member of CE family, which was mainly expressed and secreted to the lumen...