Expression And Regulation Of Lipocalin-Type Prostaglandin D Synthase In The Testis And Epididymis Of Rat

L-PGDS is expressed in the male reproductive organs of many species. However, the regulation of L-PGDS in male reproductive system is still uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression pattern and regulation of L-PGDS in rat testis and epididymis under the conditions of sexual maturation, castration, EDS treatments and cryptorchidism by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.During the sexual maturation, L-PGDS expression was detected in rat epididymis from 30 days after birth, and became stronger in the developing process. However, In the testis, L-PGDS mRNA was weakly expressed in adult rat peritubular cells, L-PGDS immunostaing was detected form 40 days, and was intensely seen in adult rat testicular interstitial tissue.L-PGDS expression was dramatically reduced in all of the rat epididymal regions aftercastration, which could be restored to control levels by testosterone propionate supplementation.DES selectively eliminated mature Leydig cells from rat testicular interstitium. A singledose of DES caused a significant decrease in L-PGDS expression, whereas testosteronepropionate supplementation could restore L-PGDS expression in the EDS-treated rats.After unilateral cryptorchidism, L-PGDS expression in rat abdominal testis andepididymis was significantly reduced as a time-dependent fashion from 5 days after operation.These results indicate that L-PGDS expression in the testis and epididymis is dependent ontestosterone. The specific pattern of L-PGDS expression in the testis and epididymis maysuggest arole of L-PGDS in both sperm development and maturatioaPostgraduate: Ma HongMajor: Basic Veterinary Science Supervisor: Professor Yang Zeng-Ming...