Cells positive for microtubule-associated protein 1B (MAP 1B) are present along rat and human efferent ductules and epididymis

Microtubule-associated protein 1B (MAP 1B) is a neuronal cytoskeleton marker with predominant expression in the developing nervous system. The present study provides evidence for the expression of this cytoskeleton protein in non-neuronal and neuronal cells along rat and human efferent ductules and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Cell and tissue research Vol. 325; no. 1; pp. 125 - 133
Main Authors:	Queiróz, Daniel B C, Silva, Adilson M da, Gutiérrez-Ospina, Gabriel, Porto, Catarina S, Grossman, Gail, Petrusz, Peter, Avellar, Maria C W
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Germany Springer Nature B.V 01-07-2006
Subjects:	Animals Epididymis - cytology Epididymis - metabolism Humans Immunohistochemistry Male Microtubule-Associated Proteins - analysis Rats Rats, Wistar Rete Testis - cytology Rete Testis - metabolism
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Summary:	Microtubule-associated protein 1B (MAP 1B) is a neuronal cytoskeleton marker with predominant expression in the developing nervous system. The present study provides evidence for the expression of this cytoskeleton protein in non-neuronal and neuronal cells along rat and human efferent ductules and epididymis (initial segment, caput, and cauda). Reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were used to confirm the presence of MAP 1B (mRNA and protein) in rat tissues. Immunohistochemical studies revealed MAP-1B-positive staining in columnar ciliated cells present in efferent ductules and in narrow cells located in the initial segment, in both rat and human. MAP-1B-positive basal cells, located underneath the columnar cells, were only identified in the initial segment and caput epididymidis of the rat. Qualitative analysis of tissues from 40-day-old and 120-day-old rats indicated that the number of MAP-1B-positive ciliated, narrow, and basal cells per tubule increased with sexual maturation. These immunoreactive cells did not stain for dopamine beta-hydroxylase or acetylcholinesterase, indicating that they were not adrenergic or cholinergic in nature. Immunohistochemical studies also revealed the presence of MAP-1B-positive staining in interstitial nerve fibers in caput and cauda epididymidis from both rat and human. Thus, the expression of MAP 1B is not confined to a specific cell type in rat and human efferent ductules and epididymis. The functional significance of this cytoskeleton protein in tissues from the male reproductive tract requires further investigation.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0302-766X 1432-0878
DOI:	10.1007/s00441-005-0108-x