Profil protéomique des canaux efférents : identification de protéines potentiellement régulées par les stéroïdes sexuels, androgènes et œstrogènes

The efferent ducts are a series of tubules that conduct sperm from the rete testis to the epididymis. They are involved in the reabsorption of the bulk of fluid and proteins originating from the rete testis during concentration of spermatozoa prior to their entry into the epididymis. In the present investigation, we have applied proteomics and bioinformatics to identify proteins that are expressed in the efferent ducts from adult rats, putatively regulated by estrogens and androgens. This approach has allowed the identification of a first set of proteins, among which an important proportion have one or more estrogen responsive elements (ERE) and/or androgen responsive elements (ARE) in their putative promoter. Furthermore, supporting evidence of such regulation is reported in the literature for many of these protein candidates. Additionally, the validation of efferent duct expression for several newly described proteins was performed. Finally, using state-of-the-art mass spectrometry imaging techniques, we have identified several new proteins whose expression appears to be specific to efferent ducts. Their characterization is presently undergoing in our laboratory. Our findings extend the present knowledge of efferent duct biology and reinforce the concept that efferent duct structure and function are under significant control by both estrogens and androgens. Ultimately, these findings point out possible targets of xenosteroids in the male genital tract.