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Immunolocalization of Aquaporins 1 and 9 in the Ram Efferent Ducts and Epididymis
Author(s) -
Schimming BC,
Pinheiro PFF,
Matteis R,
Machado CM,
Domeniconi RF
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
reproduction in domestic animals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.546
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1439-0531
pISSN - 0936-6768
DOI - 10.1111/rda.12537
Subject(s) - epididymis , efferent ducts , efferent , biology , epithelium , aquaporin , cytoplasm , microbiology and biotechnology , immunohistochemistry , water transport , aquaporin 1 , anatomy , sperm , immunology , water channel , genetics , mechanical engineering , water flow , environmental engineering , afferent , engineering , inlet
Contents Aquaporins ( AQP s) are essential membrane protein channels for the transport of water across membranes. Fluid movement in the epididymis is important for modulation of the luminal environment, in which sperm mature and reside. This study was designed to understand the morphology and localization of AQP s in ram efferent ducts ( ED ) and epididymis. For this purpose, the epididymis of seven animals were removed for histologic and immunohistochemical analyses. AQP 1 immunoreactivity was observed in the apex of the ED , and AQP 9 was found adjacent to the nuclei of the epithelial cells of the ED . The epithelial lining of ram epididymis is pseudostratified columnar and presents principal, basal, apical and narrow cells. In the initial segment ( IS ), a moderate reaction for AQP 1 was observed in the apical cytoplasm of epithelial cells. An intense reactivity for AQP 1 was noted over the microvilli of principal cells and in spermatozoa in the caput. In the corpus and cauda, AQP 1 was noted only over the endothelial cells of vascular channels located in intertubular spaces. A weak‐to‐moderate reaction for AQP 9 was observed in the nuclei of epithelial cells in the IS , caput and corpus of the epididymis. In the cauda, an intense reaction to AQP 9 was observed in the epithelial border. In the IS , caput and corpus, the reactivity for AQP 9 differed from those observed in domestic animals. The cauda showed a pattern similar to that previously described. These results indicate that AQP s 1 and 9 have reversed locations and roles in rams, suggesting activity variations related with fluid and solute absorption throughout the epididymis.