HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) [Supplemental Tables] All Versions of this Article: 75/3/462    most recent biolreprod.105.048058v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Yamazaki, K. Articles by Komiyama, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Yamazaki, K. Articles by Komiyama, M. Agricola Articles by Yamazaki, K. Articles by Komiyama, M.

Identification and Characterization of Novel and Unknown Mouse Epididymis-Specific Genes by Complementary DNA Microarray Technology¹

Departments of Bioenvironmental Medicine³ Functional Genomics,⁴ Environmental Health Science Project for Future Generations,⁵ Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan Center of Environmental Health Science for Future Generations,⁶ Chiba 260-8670, Japan Department of Genomic Drug Discovery Science,⁷ Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8509, Japan Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology,⁸ Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi 332-0012, Japan Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences,⁹ Chiba University, Kashiwa 277-0882, Japan

ABSTRACT

To examine epididymal function, we attempted to identify highly expressed genes in mouse epididymis using a cDNA microarray containing PCR products amplified from a mouse epididymal cDNA library. We isolated one novel and four known genes—lymphocyte cytosolic protein 1 (Lcp1), complement subcomponents C1r/C1s, Uegf protein, and bone morphogenetic protein and zona pellucida-like domains 1 (Cuzd1), transmembrane epididymal protein 1 (Teddm1), and whey acidic protein 4-disulfide core domain 16 (Wfdc16)—with unknown functions in the epididymis. The novel gene, designatedSerpina1f(serine peptidase inhibitor [SERPIN], clade A, member 1f), harbors an open reading frame of 1 233 bp encoding a putative protein of 411 amino acids, including a SERPIN domain. These five genes were predominantly expressed in the epididymis as compared to other organs. In situ hybridization analysis revealed their epididymal region-specific expression patterns. Real-time RT-PCR analysis revealed a significant increase in mRNA expression of these genes around puberty. Castration decreased their expression, except forLcp1. Testosterone (T) restored these reduced expressions, except forTeddm1; however, this restoration was not observed with 17 beta-estradiol (E2). Administration of T and E2 combination recovered theSerpina1fmRNA concentration; this recovery was also observed with T alone. However, the recovery ofCuzd1andWfdc16mRNA concentrations was inadequate. Neonatal diethylstilbestrol treatment suppressed theCuzd1,Wfdc16, andSerpina1fmRNA expression in the epididymis of 8-week-old mice; this was not observed with E2. These results suggest that our microarray system can provide a novel insight into the epididymal function on a molecular basis, and the five genes might play important roles in the epididymis.

estradiol, gene regulation, male reproductive tract, testosterone, toxicology

¹ Supported by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan. The nucleotide and conceptual amino acid sequence of serine peptidase inhibitor, clade A, member 1f (SERPINA1F) has been deposited in GenBank under the GenBank accession number AB233454.

² Correspondence: FAX: 81 43 226 2018; mkomi{at}faculty.chiba-u.jp