Journal Article10.1002/AJA.1001540104
Development of cell types and of regional differences in the postnatal rat epididymis.
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TL;DR: A model for differentation of cell types in the epididymis is proposed and it is suggested that narrow cells are precursors to light cells in the middle and terminal segments.
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Abstract: The development of cell types and regional differences in the rat epididymis was studied in specimens of the initial, middle and terminal segments prepared at intervals between birth and postnatal day 94. The development of the epididymis was divided into three phases: (1) an undifferentiated period; (2) a period of differentiation, and (3) a phase of expansion. During the undifferentiated period, from birth to day 15, the epithelial cells had a uniform appearance. Halo cells, which are believed to be migratory leukocytes, appeared on day 14. The period of differentiation extended from day 16 to day 44. Slender, densely staining cells, termed narrow cells, appeared in the epithelium of all three segments on day 16, constituting the first evidence of differentiation of cell types in the epididymal epithelium per se. In addition to their shape and apical nuclei, the narrow cells were distinguished from other epithelial cells by the presence of cup-shaped apical vacuoles and mitochondria with tubular cristae. Principal cells and basal cells were identified on day 28, which also marked the firsh distinction of differences in epithelial height among the different segments. Narrow cells persisted into the adult in the initial segment. In the middle and terminal segments, however, narrow cells disappeared by day 35, when light cells made their appearance. The major event of the period of expansion, from day 45 to 3 months, was the appearance of sperm in the lumen between days 45 and 52. A model for differentation of cell types in the epididymis is proposed and it is suggested that narrow cells are precursors to light cells in the middle and terminal segments. The development of ultrastructural features of adult cell types preceded the appearance of sperm in the lumen.
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Mitochondria-rich, proton-secreting epithelial cells.
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TL;DR: This review emphasizes important structural and functional features of proton-secreting cells, describes the tissue distribution of these cells and discusses the known functions ofThese cells in their respective epithelia.
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Epididymal Cell Types and Their Functions
Louis Hermo,Bernard Robaire +1 more
- 01 Jan 2002
TL;DR: The mammalian epididymis is a highly coiled duct that links the efferent ducts to the vas deferens and plays an important role in sperm transport, concentration, protection, and storage.
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Region-specific gene expression in the epididymis
TL;DR: The contribution of small RNAs in epididymal gene regulation has been investigated and constitutes a promising avenue for clinical application with regard to male fertility.
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Gene Expression in the Epididymis
TL;DR: This review summarizes the current knowledge on regionalized gene expression in the epididymis and presents hypotheses concerning its ontogenetic origin and regulation in the adult.
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Defective postnatal development of the male reproductive tract in LGR4 knockout mice.
Fernando Mendive,Patrick Laurent,Grégory Van Schoore,William C. Skarnes,Roland Pochet,Gilbert Vassart +5 more
TL;DR: It is reported that the orphan G protein-coupled receptor LGR4/GPR48 plays a role in the postnatal tissue remodeling needed for elongation and convolution of the efferent ducts and epididymis and is identified as an important signaling molecule implicated in the tube morphogenesis of the male reproductive tract.
143
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The structure and fuction of the Epididymis. 1. The histology of the Rat Epididymis.
TL;DR: The epididymis possesses an epithelium containing six cell types-principal, basal, ciliated, apical, halo, and clear cells-each of which is described, which permits two zones to be recognized in the efferent ducts.
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