The expression of aquaporins 1 and 9 in adult rat epididymis is perturbed by chronic exposure to ethanol |
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Authors: | Teixeira Giovana R Chuffa Luiz Gustavo A Martins Otávio A Kremer Rafael Pinheiro Patrícia Fernanda F de Mello Júnior Wilson Martinez Marcelo Martinez Francisco E Domeniconi Raquel F |
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Affiliation: | a Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biosciences, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Botucatu 18618-970, SP, Brazil b Department of Natural Sciences, FURB - Universidade Regional de Blumenau, Blumenau 89012-900, SC, Brazil c Department of Morphology and Pathology, UFSCar - Univ Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, SP, Brazil |
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Abstract: | Aquaporins (AQPs), notably AQP-1 and AQP-9, may contribute to reabsorption of fluid and solute across the epididymis. Ethanol is related to be a toxicant affecting directly or indirectly the epididymis and the sperm motility. This study examined the expression of AQP-1 and AQP-9 in adult epididymis of the UChA and UChB 10% (v/v) ethanol-preferring rats, focusing the ethanol-induced hormonal disturbances upon the regulation of these AQPs. Chronic ethanol intake significantly decreased body weight, while UChA and UChB rats displayed a marked loss of epididymal weights. Both ethanol-consuming animals had a severe reduction of testosterone levels, whereas LH and 17β-estradiol were unchanged. Throughout the epididymis, a strong reaction to AQP-1 was observed in myoid and endothelial cells of the UChB ethanol-preferring rats, differently from a moderate intensity in the initial segment of the UChA rats. In addition, AQP-9 showed a strong immunoreaction in the apical membrane of principal cells at initial segment. In cauda epididymis, the level of AQP-9 was reduced along the microvillus projections in both UChA and UChB rats compared to controls. We conclude that chronic ethanol consumption modulates the androgen levels, thereby modifying the expression pattern of AQP-1 and 9 in the epididymis. |
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Keywords: | Ethanol UCh rats Epididymis AQP-1 and AQP-9 |
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