Differential Endocrine Regulation of Genes Enriched in Initial Segment and Distal Caput of the Mouse Epididymis as Revealed by Genome-Wide Expression Profiling
We have performed genome-wide expression profiling of endocrine regulation of genes expressed in the mouse initial segment (IS) and distal caput of the epididymis by using Affymetrix microarrays. The data revealed that of the 15â020 genes expressed in the epididymis, 35% were enriched in one of th...
Saved in:
Published in: | Biology of reproduction Vol. 75; no. 2; pp. 240 - 251 |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
Format: | Journal Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Madison, WI
Society for the Study of Reproduction
01-08-2006
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | Get full text |
Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
Summary: | We have performed genome-wide expression profiling of endocrine regulation of genes expressed in the mouse initial segment
(IS) and distal caput of the epididymis by using Affymetrix microarrays. The data revealed that of the 15â020 genes expressed
in the epididymis, 35% were enriched in one of the two regions studied, indicating that differential functions can be attributed
to the IS and the more distal caput regions. The data, furthermore, showed that 27% of the genes expressed in the IS and/or
distal caput epididymidis are under the regulation of testicular factors present in the duct fluid, while bloodborne androgens
can regulate for 14% of them. This is in line with the high testis dependency of epididymal physiology. We then focused on
genes with moderate or strong expression, showing strict segment enrichment and strong dependency on testicular factors. Analyses
of the 59 genes, including upregulated and downregulated genes, fulfilling the criteria indicated that the expression of 18
(17 downregulated genes; 1 upregulated gene) of 19 gonadectomy-responsive genes enriched in the IS was not maintained by the
androgen treatment, whereas the expression of all six downregulated genes enriched in the distal caput and the majority of
those with no strict segment enrichment of expression (28 of 34; consisting of 23 downregulated and 5 upregulated genes) were
maintained by androgens. Hence, it is evident that testicular factors other than androgens are important for the expression
of IS-enriched genes, whereas the expression of distal caput-enriched genes is typically regulated by androgens. Identical
data were obtained by independent clustering analyses performed for the expression data of 3626 epididymal genes. Several
novel genes with putative involvement in epididymal sperm maturation, such as a disintegrin and metallopeptidase domain 28
( Adam28 ) and a solute carrier organic anion transporter family, member 4C1 ( Slco4c1 ), were identified, indicating that this approach is successful for identifying novel epididymal genes.
Abstract
Expression profiling revealed that factors other than androgens are important for the expression of IS-enriched genes, whereas
the expression of caput-enriched genes is typically regulated by androgens. |
---|---|
Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0006-3363 1529-7268 |
DOI: | 10.1095/biolreprod.105.047811 |