Immunofluorescent Localization of a Murine Seminal Vesicle Proteinase Inhibitor 1
45
Citation
0
Reference
10
Related Paper
Citation Trend
Abstract:
The indirect immunofluorescent technique was used to localize a proteinase inhibitor isolated from murine seminal vesicles. The inhibitor was found in the lumen and in the apical epithelium of the seminal vesicle but not in the testes, epididymides, ductus deferens or Cowper’s glands. It was also associated with the anterior acrosomal region of ejaculated sperm and sperm recovered from the female tract within 5 min of coitus. The inhibitor is removed from uterine sperm between 2 to 4 h postcoitus, however sperm recovered from the uterus 2 h postcoitus will rebind inhibitor. The inhibitor is not normally associated with epididymal or ductus sperm although these sperm will bind purified inhibitor in vitro.Keywords:
Vas deferens
Lumen (anatomy)
Vas deferens
Cite
Citations (9)
The zinc and copper content in the different epididymal segments and vas deferens of castrated rats were investigated with the help of atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The vas deferens showed maximum zinc content as compared to that of different parts of epididymis in all groups whether castrated unilaterally, bilaterally or in the intact control. Zinc content was reduced in the epididymis and vas deferens ipsilateral to the castrated side as compared to that of contralateral control and intake animals. Lowest zinc content was observed in the epididymis and vas deferens of bilaterally castrated animals from that of other groups. Absence of sperms was observed in all segments of epididymis and vas in bilaterally castrated animals and from the unilaterally castrated side. Copper content was unaltered in all epididymal segments and vas deferens. There appears to be a correlation between the absence of sperms in the male genital tract and the decrease in zinc content.
Vas deferens
Cite
Citations (2)
A study dealing with the uptake of zinc-65 by different segments of the epididymis and vas deferens of the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) in the presence or absence of spermatozoa is reported. It was determined that zinc-65 uptake by the vas deferens of the control side was significantly higher than that of the epididymal segments (vas deferens vs. caput, proximal and distal corpus, or cauda, p less than .01). Amon g the epididymal segments themselves there was no significant difference . Efferent duct ligation consistently reduced the uptake of zinc-65 in all portions of the epididymis and vas deferens (control vs. ligated: caput, corpus, cauda, and vas, p less than .01). The percentage reduction in the uptake by different segments of the epididymis and vas remained virtually constant in the ligated side (caput, 57%; proximal corpus, 53%; distal corpus, 64%; cauda, 55%; vas deferens, 55%). Nevertheless, zinc-65 uptake by vas continued to be significantly greater than that of the epididymis. It is noted that the reduced zinc-65 accumulated on the ligated side could at least be partly due to absence of spermatozoa. It is further suggested that the lowered uptake of zinc-65 by the epididymis and vas deferens following efferent duct ligation in the monkey may be also due to a local androgen deficiency.
Vas deferens
Efferent ducts
Cite
Citations (2)
The objective was to characterize morphological, morphometric, and ultrastructural changes in rhea spermatozoa between the epididymis and the vas deferens. Sperm samples were collected from the reproductive tracts of seven adult individuals and evaluated for sperm characteristics using brightfield microscopy as well as ultrastructural features using scanning electron microscopy (SM). Mean sperm count tended to increase in the vas deferens (378.0 ± 135.0 × 106) compared to the epididymis (201.0 ± 77.4 × 106). Percentages of motile sperm grew from 37.0 ± 4.9% in the epididymis to 58.5 ± 7.7% in the vas deferens. The proportion of normal spermatozoa was 75.6 ± 1.8% and most common defects were bent tails (9.7 ± 0.9%). However, these proportions were not different between epididymis and vas deferens. SM analysis revealed further features of rhea spermatozoa. Normal rhea spermatozoa were threadlike with an acrosome (0.95 ± 0.0 µm), head (7.53 ± 0.01 µm), midpiece (2.08 ± 0.01 µm), and tail (30.7 ± 0.06 µm). Lengths of sperm acrosome, head, midpiece, and tail were longer in the vas deferens compared to the epididymis. Our findings suggest that rhea spermatozoa undergo a maturation process during the passage from the epididymis to the vas deferens.
Vas deferens
Cite
Citations (5)
In this review, the structural and functional characteristics of the human epididymis, including vas efferents and ductus deferens, are revisited under the morphological and ultrastructural point of view. New surface sperm antigens, enabling the fertilizing power during the epididymal transit, various epididymal microenvironments and their activities on the spermatozoa are reported. This revision is important because the recent procedures of assisted reproduction, aimed at overcoming the cases of obstructive azoospermia, use the spermatozoa aspirated from the proximal segments of the epididymis and suggest a flexibility of the epididymal function with regard to the fertilizing sperm capacity. In my opinion these procedures must be based on an accurate investigation on the function of the different epididymal districts. Moreover, in patients affected by congenital absence of the vas deferens (CAV), the ultrastructural examination of the spermatozoa aspirated from the proximal segments of the epididymis revealed that most of them are defective: in fact the absence of the vas deferens seems to affect the development and the functional properties of the epididymal spermatozoa.
Vas deferens
Obstructive azoospermia
Cite
Citations (8)
Epithelial proliferation of the vas deferens and epididymis was studied in rabbits after flash or continuous labeling with DNA precursor by autoradiography. A high proliferative capacity of the epithelium was found: after 2 days of labeling, 11% of labeled cells were found in the vas deferens and 20% in the ductus epididymidis.
Vas deferens
Cite
Citations (7)
Vas deferens
Rete testis
Cite
Citations (11)
Vas deferens
Testicle
Cite
Citations (25)
Cryptorchidism is a pathological condition in which the testicles are retained in the abdominal cavity, resulting in atrophic seminiferous tubules. Some gross structural abnormalities and histological alterations have been described in the epididymis and vas deferens in humans with cryptorchidic testes. Orchidopexy surgery restores testicular spermatogenesis in experimental and clinical procedures, but it is still unclear whether histological changes in the epididymis and vas deferens caused by cryptorchidism may be reverted by orchidopexy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the histological changes in the epididymis and vas deferens following experimental uni- and bilateral cryptorchidism in mature and immature mice, and to determine whether alterations could be reversed by orchidopexy. Young and adult C57 BL6 mice were randomized into three groups: control mice, bi/unilaterally cryptorchidic mice and bilaterally cryptorchidic mice with orchidopexy. After evaluation of testis, epididymis and vas deferens, there were no histological alterations in contralateral epididymis of mice unilaterally cryptorchidic. Ipsilateral epididymis of unilaterally cryptorchidic mice and epididymis from bilaterally cryptorchidic mice showed significant histological alterations. Orchuidopexy restored normal spermatogenesis and the histological features of epididymis. It would appear that persistent male infertility clinically observed after orchidopexy could not be related to histological alteration in the testis and epididymis. Development and maintenance of the vas deferens seems to be controlled independently of the epididymis since it was not altered by cryptorchidism condition.
Vas deferens
Cite
Citations (6)
The activities of nine enzymes of the TCA cycle were estimated in the initial segment, caput, corpus and cauda segments of epididymis and vas deferens of adult rhesus monkey and expressed as units per mg DNA. These enzymes were also estimated in epididymal segments and vas deferens of castrated and castrated-androgen replaced monkeys as well. Results indicated higher activities of most of the enzymes in vas deferens as compared to epididymal segments. All the enzymes showed marked reduction in epididymis and vas deferens after castration, the effect being much more pronounced in the epididymis, than in the vas. Androgen replacement in castrated monkeys stimulated most of the enzymes markedly in epididymis and in the vas deferens as compared to their castrated values. The response of cauda and vas deferens to exogenous androgen treatment was however moderate, as compared to the other epididymal segments. The studies indicate that energy metabolism in the epididymis (as well as in the vas deferens) is strictly androgen dependent and the energy charge of these target organs is likely to fall appreciably after castration, which may in turn affect many energy dependent processes of these organs (e.g. absorption, secretion of specific substances etc.) which have been considered important for sperm maturation and survival.
Vas deferens
Cite
Citations (14)