Biomaterial Database

Compartments with predominant ephrin-B1 and EphB2/B4 expression are present alternately along the excurrent duct system in the adult mouse testis and epididymis. 2019

M R Gofur, and K Ogawa

Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Izumisano, Japan.

Ephrin receptors (Eph) and ligands are membrane-bound cell-cell communication molecules that regulate the spatial organization of various tissues and organs by repulsive or adhesive signals arising from contact between Eph- and ephrin-bearing cells. However, the expression and functions of Eph receptors in the testis and epididymis are virtually unknown. We aimed to investigate the expression of several EphB receptors and ephrin-B ligands in the testis and epididymis of adult mice. mRNA and protein expression was detected via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction amplification and immunostaining, respectively. Complementary expression patterns were observed in the epithelia along the excurrent duct system in the testis and epididymis; ephrin-B1 was strongly expressed in the epithelia of the rete testis and segment I in the ductus epididymis, whereas EphB2 and/or EphB4 were strongly expressed in the epithelia of the straight tubules and efferent ductules. Moreover, ephrin-B1 was expressed in the spermatogonia, Leydig cells, and peritubular myoid cells in the testis, whereas EphB2 was expressed in elongated spermatids and EphB4 was expressed in the spermatogonia and Leydig cells. Furthermore, these receptors were found to be tyrosine-phosphorylated in the testis and/or epididymis. Receptor localization and phosphorylation patterns suggested that EphB/ephrin-B signaling might occur in the seminiferous tubules and epithelial junctions among the straight tubules, rete testis, efferent ductules, and ductus epididymis. Therefore, we propose that EphB/ephrin-B signaling may regulate epithelial boundary formation in the excurrent tubule/ductule/duct system as well as modulate spermatogenesis and spermiation. Overall, this study represents the first analysis of EphB receptor and ephrin-B ligand expression in the normal adult testis and epididymis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007985	Leydig Cells	Steroid-producing cells in the interstitial tissue of the TESTIS. They are under the regulation of PITUITARY HORMONES; LUTEINIZING HORMONE; or interstitial cell-stimulating hormone. TESTOSTERONE is the major androgen (ANDROGENS) produced.	Interstitial Cells, Testicular,Leydig Cell,Testicular Interstitial Cell,Testicular Interstitial Cells,Cell, Leydig,Cell, Testicular Interstitial,Cells, Leydig,Cells, Testicular Interstitial,Interstitial Cell, Testicular
D008297	Male		Males
D004822	Epididymis	The convoluted cordlike structure attached to the posterior of the TESTIS. Epididymis consists of the head (caput), the body (corpus), and the tail (cauda). A network of ducts leaving the testis joins into a common epididymal tubule proper which provides the transport, storage, and maturation of SPERMATOZOA.
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013087	Spermatids	Male germ cells derived from the haploid secondary SPERMATOCYTES. Without further division, spermatids undergo structural changes and give rise to SPERMATOZOA.	Spermatoblasts,Spermatid,Spermatoblast
D013093	Spermatogonia	Euploid male germ cells of an early stage of SPERMATOGENESIS, derived from prespermatogonia. With the onset of puberty, spermatogonia at the basement membrane of the seminiferous tubule proliferate by mitotic then meiotic divisions and give rise to the haploid SPERMATOCYTES.	Spermatophores,Spermatogonias,Spermatophore
D051379	Mice	The common name for the genus Mus.	Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus
D036183	Receptor, EphB2	An eph family receptor found widely expressed in embryonic and adult tissues. High levels of EphB2 receptor are observed in growing AXONS and NERVE FIBERS. Several isoforms of the protein exist due to multiple alternative mRNA splicing.	EphB2 Receptor,Developmentally Regulated EPH-Related Tyrosine Kinase,EphB2 Protein,EphB2 Receptors,EphB2-Tyrosine Kinase,Developmentally Regulated EPH Related Tyrosine Kinase,EphB2 Tyrosine Kinase,Receptors, EphB2
D036224	Receptor, EphB4	An eph family receptor found in a variety of adult and embryonic tissues. Unlike the majority of proteins in this class there is little or no expression of EphB4 receptor in the BRAIN. It has been found at high levels in developing mammary glands and in invasive mammary tumors.	EphB4 Receptor,EPHB4 Protein,Hepatoma Transmembrane Kinase,Kinase, Hepatoma Transmembrane,Transmembrane Kinase, Hepatoma
D036225	Receptor, EphB1	An eph family receptor found primarily in the nervous system. In the embryonic BRAIN EphB1 receptor expression occurs in the mantle layer and increases with the progression of embryogenesis. In adult brain it is found in the several regions including the CEREBELLUM; CEREBRAL CORTEX; and CAUDATE NUCLEUS; and PUTAMEN.	EphB1 Receptor,EPHT2 Protein,Neuronally Expressed EPH-Related Tyrosine Kinase,Neuronally Expressed EPH Related Tyrosine Kinase