Insulin 3-like hormone and its role in epididymo-testicular descent.
Int Braz J Urol
; 33(3): 407-11; discussion 411-3, 2007.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17626659
PURPOSE: The role of insulin 3-like (Insl3) hormone signaling in the testicular descent process has been demonstrated. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate epididymal development in Insl3-deficient mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Heterozygous and homozygous Insl3 mutants of a mixed CD1 X 129/Sv genetic background were generated by breeding Insl3-/- females with Insl3+/- males, and their genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction. On the first postnatal day, newborn males were sacrificed, embedded in paraffin, and cut in 4 mm sections. Sections were stained with hematoxylin/eosin and immunoreacted with anti-alpha actin antibody. RESULTS: An analysis of stained sections indicated an arrest in the development of the epididymis in all homozygous mice. The cauda and corpus of the epididymis were undersized. Compared to the heterozygous epididymis, the homozygous epididymis had fewer peritubular layers and dwarfish musculature. We confirmed this with immunostaining with monoclonal antibodies against alpha-smooth muscle actin. CONCLUSION: Defective development of the smooth musculature in the epididymis of Insl3 homozygous mutant mice, combined with its high intraabdominal undescended position, supports previous observations regarding the importance of intact epididymis morphology and function for descent of the epididymo-testicular unit.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Testículo
/
Epididimo
/
Insulina
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Int Braz J Urol
Assunto da revista:
UROLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2007
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Suíça
País de publicação:
Brasil