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Aquaporin 9 is expressed in the epididymis of immature and mature pigs
Author(s) -
Schimming BC,
Baumam CAE,
Pinheiro PFF,
Matteis R,
Domeniconi RF
Publication year - 2017
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.12957
Subject(s) - epididymis , epithelium , boar , aquaporin 3 , biology , sperm , andrology , basal (medicine) , aquaporin , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , endocrinology , genetics , insulin
Contents Aquaporins ( AQP s) are channel proteins that facilitate the transepithelial and bidirectional movement of water. AQP 9 is an aquaporin that is expressed in the mammalian epididymis. This water transport contributes to epididymal sperm concentration. This study aimed to examine the morphology of epididymal epithelium in piglets and boars, as well as the expression and immunolocalization of AQP 9. The piglets presented an epididymal epithelium in differentiation with principal, basal and apical cells. The cellular population of the epididymal epithelium in boars consisted of principal, basal, apical, clear and narrow cells. The migratory cells known as halo cells were observed in the epididymis of both piglets and boars. AQP 9 expression presented differences between piglets and boars. Moderate intensity of AQP 9 immunoreaction was observed in the apical border of the epididymal epithelium of the caput and cauda regions in the piglet epididymis. A moderate‐to‐intense reaction for AQP 9 was observed in the nuclei of epithelial cells of the three epididymal regions in the boar epididymis. The region of the cauda epididymis showed reactivity for AQP 9 also in the apical border of the epithelium. It is believed that the AQP 9 is already functional in piglets at only 1 week of age and is more active, playing a pivotal role in the caput and cauda regions of the epididymis. Moreover, the intense AQP 9 expression in the apical border of epithelial cells in the cauda region of the boar epididymis suggests a higher performance of AQP 9 in this region, where sperm complete their maturation process, stored and concentrated.