Microvasculature of the mouse epididymis, with special reference to fenestrated capillaries localized in the initial segment

1984 ◽  
Vol 209 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuhiro Abe ◽  
Hiroko Takano ◽  
Takashi Ito
Keyword(s):  
Special Reference ◽  
Initial Segment ◽  
Fenestrated Capillaries ◽  
Mouse Epididymis

scholarly journals The 5′-Flanking Region of the Murine Epididymal Protein of 17 Kilodaltons Gene Targets Transgene Expression in the Epididymis

Endocrinology ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 144 (3) ◽  
pp. 877-886 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kichiya Suzuki ◽  
Yoshihiko Araki ◽  
Mei-Ying Zhu ◽  
Jean-Jacques Lareyre ◽  
Robert J. Matusik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Initial Segment ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Foreign Gene ◽  
Temporal Expression ◽  
Specific Expression ◽  
Flanking Region ◽  
Ontogenic Expression ◽  
Cat Gene ◽  
Mouse Epididymis ◽  
Caput Epididymidis

A murine epididymal retinoic-acid-binding protein (mE-RABP) is specifically expressed in the mid/distal caput epididymidis and is androgen regulated. The murine epididymal protein of 17 kDa (mEP17) gene, a novel gene homologous to mE-RABP, is located within 5 kb of the 5′-flanking region of the mE-RABP gene. In contrast, expression of the mEP17 gene is restricted to the initial segment and regulated by factor(s) contained in testicular fluid. To identify cis-DNA regulatory element(s) involved in the tissue- and region-specific expression of the mEP17 gene in transgenic mice, we have studied the expression of a transgene containing 5.3 kb of the 5′-flanking region of the mEP17 gene (5.3mEP17) linked to chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene. Significant caput epididymidis-specific CAT activity was detected in transgenic mouse lines; and CAT gene expression is restricted to the initial segment, as is the expression of the endogenous mEP17 gene. Ontogenic expression and testicular factor dependency also mimic that of endogenous mEP17 gene. These results suggest that the 5.3mEP17 fragment contains all the information required for spatial and temporal expression in the mouse epididymis. The 5.3mEP17 fragment will be useful to express a foreign gene of interest in the epididymis in an initial segment-specific manner.

scholarly journals Differential Endocrine Regulation of Genes Enriched in Initial Segment and Distal Caput of the Mouse Epididymis as Revealed by Genome-Wide Expression Profiling1

2006 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 240-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra Sipilä ◽  
Dwi Ari Pujianto ◽  
Ramin Shariatmadari ◽  
Janne Nikkilä ◽  
Mari Lehtoranta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Initial Segment ◽  
Endocrine Regulation ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Genome Wide Expression ◽  
Mouse Epididymis

scholarly journals Bfk, a Novel Member of the Bcl2 Gene Family, Is Highly Expressed in Principal Cells of the Mouse Epididymis and Demonstrates a Predominant Nuclear Localization

Endocrinology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 148 (7) ◽  
pp. 3196-3204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dwi Ari Pujianto ◽  
Anastasios E. Damdimopoulos ◽  
Petra Sipilä ◽  
Jenni Jalkanen ◽  
Ilpo Huhtaniemi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mammary Gland ◽  
Nuclear Localization ◽  
Initial Segment ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
B Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Principal Cells ◽  
Bcl2 Family ◽  
Induced Apoptosis ◽  
Green Fluorescent ◽  
Mouse Epididymis

B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) family kin (BFK) is a recently identified novel protein that is similar to proteins of the BCL2 family. In the present study, we discovered that the mouse Bfk transcript is expressed at the highest level in the epididymis. Two transcripts of 0.9 and 2.6 kb in size were identified, with alternative exon 4 structures, resulting in a difference in the last three to five amino acids of the variants. However, the 0.9-kb transcript was found to be the predominant form in the epididymis and mammary gland, another tissue with strong Bfk expression. Epididymal Bfk expression was regulated both by androgens and other testicular factors. It is thus one of the few initial-segment enriched genes under androgen control, the majority of them being regulated by other testicular factors. BFK protein was expressed specifically in the principal cells of the epididymis. Its nuclear localization was evident in the initial segment and caput epididymis and in the epithelium of pregnant female mammary gland. The expression of BFK-enhanced green fluorescent protein recombinant protein in epididymal cells further confirmed the predominant nuclear localization of BFK with nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling. Overexpressing BFK in epididymal cells did not induce apoptosis. However, enhanced caspase 3 activation was observed in the presence of BFK upon staurosporine-induced apoptosis. This suggests that BFK may have a proapoptotic role only after the process has been initiated by other mechanisms. Being exceptionally highly expressed in the initial segment, Bfk is suggested to have a role in the differentiation of this segment of the epididymis.

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