Region-specific localization of retinoic acid receptor-alpha expression in the rat epididymis.
Region-specific localization of retinoic acid receptor-alpha expression in the rat epididymis.
复制标题
大鼠附睾中视黄酸受体α表达的区域特异性定位。
作者：
K. M. Akmal;J. M. Dufour;K. Kim
维生素A已被证明参与精子在附睾中的成熟。维生素A在男性生殖中的作用被认为至少部分由视黄酸受体α（RAR α）介导。本研究的目的是确定RAR α基因是否表现出区域特异性，其表达模式沿着长度的附睾。结果表明，在精子成熟过程中，附睾中可能需要维生素A。从附睾RNA的北方印迹分析显示，两个主要的转录本，3.4 kb和2.7 kb，类似于在睾丸中发现的两个主要的转录本。原位杂交分析表明，在管腔上皮中的转录本的表达是最高的近端头，低的身体，并再次在远端尾高。这种区域特异性表达的RAR α转录沿着附睾几乎是相同的蛋白质，如可视化的反应与抗RAR α抗体和免疫组织化学染色。这些结果表明RAR α在附睾上皮区域中的作用，这些区域被假定参与精子的成熟和储存。
Vitamin A has been shown to be involved in spermatozoal maturation in the epididymis. The action of vitamin A in male reproduction is postulated to be mediated at least partly by retinoic acid receptor-alpha (RAR alpha). The objective of this study was to determine whether the RAR alpha gene exhibits regional specificity in its pattern of expression along the length of the epididymis. The results would indicate where in the epididymis vitamin A may be required during maturation of spermatozoa. Northern blot analyses of RNA from the epididymis revealed two major transcripts, 3.4 kb and 2.7 kb, similar to the two major transcripts found in testis. In situ hybridization analyses demonstrated the expression of transcripts in the luminal epithelia to be highest in the proximal caput, low in the corpus, and high again in the distal cauda. This regional specificity in expression of the RAR alpha transcripts along the epididymis was virtually identical to that for the proteins, as visualized by reactions with anti-RAR alpha antibody and immunohistochemical stains. These results suggest roles for RAR alpha in the regions of epididymal epithelium that are postulated to participate in spermatozoal maturation and storage.