Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
4
pubmed:dateCreated
2004-10-6
pubmed:abstractText
During the epididymal transit, male gametes acquire new surface proteins necessary for their fertilizing ability. We have previously shown that membranous vesicles, called epididymosomes, interact with sperm surface within the epididymal fluid allowing transfer of some proteins to different subcellular compartments of spermatozoa. We previously showed that one of the major proteins associated with epididymosomes was an aldose reductase (gene: AKR1B5) and confirmed that aldose reductase is located in the epithelial cells bordering the intraluminal compartment of the epididymis. The present study shows that cytosolic aldose reductase activity was maximal in the proximal and middle segments of the epididymis and decreased in the distal epididymis. Western and Northern blot analysis confirmed the distribution pattern of aldose reductase and of the encoding mRNA. The optimal pH of epididymal aldose reductase was 6.0-6.5 when glucose was used as a substrate; this corresponds to the pH of the intraluminal epididymal fluid. In order to evaluate the possible involvement of sorbitol in sperm physiology, Western blot of tissue homogenates were probed with an anti-sorbitol dehydrogenase antibody. The amount of enzyme immunodetected was higher in the proximal and distal segments of the epididymis when compared to the amount detectable in the middle segment of the epididymis. Sorbitol dehydrogenase activity as well as the level of the encoding mRNA showed the same pattern of distribution. Furthermore, immunohistological studies using the anti-sorbitol dehydrogenase revealed that this enzyme was synthesized by the epididymal epithelial cells bordering the intraluminal compartment. Knowing the importance of sorbitol and fructose in sperm metabolism, we hypothesized that the polyol pathway is involved in the modulation of sperm motility within the epididymis.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Dec
pubmed:issn
1040-452X
pubmed:author
pubmed:copyrightInfo
Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
69
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
448-56
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2004
pubmed:articleTitle
Polyol pathway along the bovine epididymis.
pubmed:affiliation
Centre de Recherche en Biologie de la Reproduction and Département d'Obstétrique-Gynécologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Canada.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't