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This Article Accepted manuscript (PDF) All Versions of this Article: JOE-08-0257v1 199/1/137    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Toda, K. Articles by Saibara, T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Toda, K. Articles by Saibara, T.

K Toda, Biochemistry, Kochi University, School of Medicine, Nankoku, 783-8505, Japan
T Okada, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Kochi University, School of Medicine,, Nankoku, Japan
Y Hayashi, Pathology, Kochi University, School of Medicine, Nankoku, Japan
T Saibara, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kochi University, School of Medicine, Nankoku, Japan

Correspondence: Katsumi Toda, Email: todak{at}kochi-u.ac.jp

Abstract

Estrogen receptor (ER) is proposed to play a critical role in the regulation of testicular fluid reabsorption at the efferent ductules, and disruption of the ER gene (ER-/-) resulted in marked dilation of the lumens of efferent ductules. This study was aimed to clarify whether disruption of the gene for aromatase (Ar), an enzyme responsible for estrogen biosynthesis, results in morphological and transcriptional alterations at the efferent ductules as observed in ER-/- mice. Histology demonstrated structural preservation of the ducts in aromatase-deficient (Ar-/-) mice. Electron microscopic examinations reveal that endocytic apparatus and tubule-cisternal endoplasmic reticulum are present in non-ciliated cells irrespective of the genotypes. However electron-dense and acid phosphatase-negative granules and apical tubules, which are components thought to be related to membrane recycling of endosomes, are observed only in wild-type (WT) and Ar-/- mice. In contrast, the Golgi complex is highly developed in ER-/- mice when compared with WT and Ar-/- mice. RT-PCR analysis reveals no significant differences in the expression levels of a subset of genes involved in ion-transportation. Thus from the structural and transcriptional points of view, the efferent ductules of Ar-/- mice are indistinguishable from those of WT mice. Moreover, data from electron microscopic examinations indicate the possible involvement of ER in the regulation of vesicle recycling processes.

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