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Biology of Reproduction, Vol 25, 813-819, Copyright © 1981 by Society for the Study of Reproduction

Changes in Trophic and Functional Parameters of the Rat Epididymis During Sexual Maturation

MARIA A. DE LARMINAT 1, PATRICIA S. CUASNICÚ 1, , and JORGE A. BLAQUIER 1

1 Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, Obligado 2490, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina


We have previously shown that the metabolism of androgens in rat epididymis suffers a transient deviation between Days 20 and 30 of life during which the formation of 3agr,17beta-dihydroxy-5agr androstane is favored over that of 5agr-dihydrotestosterone. Searching for the biological significance of this phenomenon, we have studied some trophic and functional parameters of the epididymis in rats 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, and 90 days of age.

The protein content of the organ reaches a maximum in the 25-day-old rat. The relative DNA content of the epididymis (µg DNA/mg dry weight) increases fourfold between Days 15 and 25 and decreases thereafter. Labeled thymidine incorporation at Day 25 is double that found at Days 20 and 30 (P<0.05). This phenomenon is not seen in prostate. The number of cells undergoing mitotic division in the epididymal epitheium of the 25-day-old rat was double that found at all other ages studied. The content of glycerylphosphorylcholine was lowest in the 20-day-old rat (P<0.05 vs 15 and 25 days) while zinc was increased threefold at the same age (P<0.01 vs 15 and 25 days). N-Acetyl-neuraminic acid increased by sim50% between Days 20 and 25 (P<0.05).

Therefore, the wave of cell replication and the increases in zinc and sialic acid content of the epididymis can be singled out as the most marked changes bearing a temporal coincidence with the shift in androgen metabolism.

If the diol shift is the signal to trigger these events, the response can be qualified as atypical since only some parameters of epididymal function are involved.

Note:
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors wish to thank Drs. Héctor Chemes and Roberto Ponzio for their participation in the morphological studies. The technical assistance of Mrs. Patricia Delcourt de Sanchez is gratefully acknowledged.

Submitted on January 29, 1981
Accepted on July 27, 1981






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Copyright © 1981 by the Society for the Study of Reproduction.