附睾分泌蛋白2β1在青春期雄性大鼠睾丸和附睾中的表达

目的:探讨附睾分泌蛋白2(HE2/EP2)的一种异构体———HE2β1在青春期雄性大鼠睾丸和附睾中的表达及其意义。方法:应用免疫组化SP法检测15只青春期SD大鼠睾丸和附睾组织中HE2β1的定位及其表达情况。结果:HE2β1在青春期大鼠睾丸和附睾组织中均有表达。在附睾中,HE2β1主要表达于附睾管上皮主细胞胞质内,而在亮细胞、晕细胞及基细胞内未见阳性表达;其表达水平在附睾头部远段较弱,在体部近、中段及尾部较强,而在附睾始段未见阳性表达。在睾丸生精小管中,部分精原细胞核及支持细胞核均可见明显的棕褐色的阳性颗粒,其他生精细胞以及间质细胞均为阴性。结论:HE2β1在青春期雄性大鼠的睾丸和附睾上皮中均有表达,其定位及表达水平具有区域特异性和细胞特异性,提示其在大鼠精子发生、成熟及附睾上皮天然抗感染机制中发挥重要的作用。

Expression of Human Epididymis Protein 2β1 in the Testis and Epididymis of Adolescent Male Rats

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of human epididymal secretary protein 2 isoform human epididymal protein 2beta1(HE2beta1) in the testis and epididymis of adolescent male rats along with its significance. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression and localization of HE2beta1 in the testis and epididymis of 15 adolescent SD rats. RESULTS: HE2beta1 immunoreactive staining was detected in the testis and epididymis. In the epithelia of the epididymal duct, HE2beta1 expressed mainly in the supranuclear region of the principle cells and the basement membrane of some epithelial cells; there were no immunostaining in the n clear cells, halo cells and basal cells. The immunopositive reaction was detected, weak in the distal caput, strong in the proximal, middle corpus and the cauda, but negative in the initial segment. Immunopositive results of HE2beta1 were also observed in some of the nuclei of spermatogonia and Sertoli cells with negatively-stained cytoplasm. CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemical staining is a fairly sensitive method for detecting HE2beta1 expression. The localization and expression level of HE2beta1 in the genital duct of adolescent male rats exhibited a region- and cell-specific expression pattern, which suggests that HE2beta1 may play an important role in spermatogenesis, maturation and epididymal epithelial innate defense mechanisms.