REPRODUCTIVE PARAMETERS OF CHIMPANZEE MODEL

这项工作是针对雄激素依赖性的研究 黑猩猩附睾体内的蛋白质，具有潜在的 避孕疫苗的开发。我们已经确定EP2是 雄激素依赖，并已确定了几种不同的剪接 EP2基因的变种。两个主要的变种，EP2A和EP2B， 不同之处在于它们由不同的启动子转录。这个 这两个变异体的N-末端序列都具有连接序列 信号肽酶裂解位点，与预期的分泌型蛋白质一样。 利用EP2的基因组克隆，我们正在鉴定 启动子和任何相关的雄激素结合序列。我们是 目前在细菌系统中表达EP2蛋白，如 在兔子和鸡身上产生的抗体并不令人满意， 以表达的蛋白作为抗原。当这种抗体是 我们将继续研究，以阐明EP2在 睾丸后精子成熟。作为这些研究的单独部分 我们已经发表了一份关于免疫组织化学的详细报告 附睾分泌蛋白EP1在黑猩猩体内的定位 附睾症。

The work is directed to investigation of the androgen dependent proteins within the chimpanzee epididymis, with the potential for development of contraceptive vaccines. We have identified EP2 as androgen dependent and have identified several different splicing variants of the EP2 gene. The two main variants, EP2A and EP2B, differ in that they are transcribed by different promoters. The N-terminal sequence of both variants possess concensus sequences for a signal peptidase cleavage site, as expected for a secretory protein. Using a genomic clone of EP2, we are int the process of identifying the promoter and any associated androgen-binding sequences. We are currently expressing the EP2 protein in a bacterial system, as antibody generation in rabbits and chickens has been unsatisfactory, to use the expressed protein as antigen. When this antibody is obtained we will continue studies to elucidate the function of EP2 in post-testicular sperm maturation. As a separate part of these studies we have published a detailed report on the immunohistochemical localization of the epididymal secretory protein EP1 in the chimpanzee epididymis.