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Aquaporin 9 (AQP9) Localization in the Adult Dog Testis Excurrent Ducts by Immunohistochemistry
Author(s) -
Domeniconi Raquel Fantin,
Orsi Antonio Marcos,
Justulin Luis Antonio,
Beu Célia Cristina Leme,
Felisbino Sérgio Luis
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the anatomical record: advances in integrative anatomy and evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.678
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1932-8494
pISSN - 1932-8486
DOI - 10.1002/ar.20611
Subject(s) - epididymis , efferent ducts , vas deferens , rete testis , immunohistochemistry , efferent , biology , anatomy , aquaporin , andrology , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , sperm , immunology , afferent
Aquaporins (AQPs) are small, intrinsic membrane proteins that are present in many cell types involved in fluid transport. AQP9 is a major apical water channel that is expressed throughout the efferent ducts, epididymis, and vas deferens, as well as in other regions of the human and rodent male reproductive tract. The target of this study was to examine the expression of AQP9 in epithelial cells in the adult dog efferent ducts, epididymis, and vas deferens. Samples of dog male reproductive tract comprising fragments of the testis; initial segment, caput, corpus, and cauda of the epididymis; and vas deferens were obtained from eight adult mongrel dogs. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting procedures were used to show AQP9 localization and distribution. AQP9 expression was not detected either in dog seminiferous tubules or rete testis. However, apical labeling for AQP9 was detected in the different regions of epididymis and vas deferens, with the reaction being less intense in the caput epididymis. Thus, AQP9 is abundantly expressed in dog male reproductive tract, in which it is an important apical pathway for transmembrane flow of water and neutral solutes. Anat Rec, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.