Expression of estrogen receptors in the efferent ductule of male sheep fetuses during gestation |
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Authors: | Xinggui Tian Sheng Cui Jiali Liu Shaoli Yi |
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Affiliation: | (1) Department of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, 100094 Beijing, Peoples Republic of China;(2) Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, 100094 Beijing, Peoples Republic of China |
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Abstract: | There is as yet no report about the developmental changes of estrogen receptors (ERs) in the male reproductive system of the sheep fetus. In the present study, the testis, efferent ductule, and epididymis of sheep fetuses were collected at days 70, 90, and 120 of gestation and in the newborn lamb. ER alpha (ER) and ER beta (ER) were detected by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that ER staining was negative in all of the examined tissues throughout gestation, whereas ER immunoreactivity was only located in the nuclei of the efferent ductule epithelium. In addition, both ER staining intensity and the number of ER-positive cells were higher at day 90 of gestation, compared with that at day 70 and at birth. These results suggest that estrogen may play important roles in efferent ductule development in sheep fetuses. |
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Keywords: | Estrogen receptor Testis Efferent ductule Ovine |
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