Expression and regulation of lipocalin-type prostaglandin d synthase in rat testis and epididymis

Biol Reprod. 2004 Apr;70(4):1088-95. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.103.022079. Epub 2003 Dec 10.

Abstract

Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS), a bifunctional protein, is expressed in the male reproductive organs of many species. However, the expression and regulation of L-PGDS in rat are still uncertain. The present study investigated the regionalization and regulation of L-PGDS expression in rat testis and epididymis by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry under the conditions of sexual maturation, castration, and ethylene dimethane sulfonate (EDS) treatments. In sexually mature rats, L-PGDS mRNA was weakly expressed only in the testicular peritubular cells, whereas L-PGDS immunostaining was highly detected in the Leydig cells by Day 70 postpartum. During sexual maturation, L-PGDS mRNA expression was highly detected in the caput, corpus, and cauda of the epididymis 70 days after birth. Compared with normal L-PGDS expression in adult epididymis, both L-PGDS mRNA expression and protein immunostaining were significantly reduced in the caput, corpus, and cauda epididymis after castration. Testosterone propionate treatment induced a significant increase of L-PGDS expression in the epididymis of castrated rats. Compared with adult rat epididymis, L-PGDS mRNA and protein expression was down-regulated after EDS treatment. Testosterone propionate treatment could induce an increase of L-PGDS mRNA and protein expression in the epididymis of EDS-treated rats. In conclusion, both castration and EDS treatments caused a significant decrease of L-PGDS expression in the epididymis, whereas testosterone propionate treatment could induce an increase of L-PGDS expression in the epididymis of both castrated and EDS-treated rats, indicating that L-PGDS expression in the rat epididymis can be up-regulated by testosterone.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Epididymis / drug effects
  • Epididymis / metabolism*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / genetics
  • Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / metabolism*
  • Lipocalins
  • Male
  • Mesylates / pharmacology
  • Orchiectomy
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Sexual Maturation / physiology
  • Testis / drug effects
  • Testis / metabolism*
  • Testosterone Propionate / pharmacology

Substances

  • Lipocalins
  • Mesylates
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Intramolecular Oxidoreductases
  • prostaglandin R2 D-isomerase
  • ethylene dimethanesulfonate
  • Testosterone Propionate