Renin-like activity in the rat epididymis. 1995

C N Uchendu
Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.

'Whole' cauda epididymal homogenate and individual components of the cauda epididymis viz, cauda epididymal cells, epididymal plasma and sperm cells, as well as the blood plasma of the rat were screened for renin-like activity by in vivo method. Enzyme activity was high in 'whole' cauda epididymal homogenate, but very low in blood plasma. Evaluation of individual components of the epididymis revealed a relatively high enzyme activity in the epididymal cells but low activity in epididymal plasma and epididymal sperm cells. The high activity in epididymal cells was not affected by efferent duct ligation for 8 weeks and bilateral nephrectomy. Like most other epididymal functions, renin-like activity in the epididymis was androgen dependent. It was concluded that cauda epididymis of the rat contains the enzyme renin, whose activities may be predominantly intracellular.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D009392 Nephrectomy Excision of kidney. Heminephrectomy,Heminephrectomies,Nephrectomies
D009919 Orchiectomy The surgical removal of one or both testicles. Castration, Male,Orchidectomy,Castrations, Male,Male Castration,Male Castrations,Orchidectomies,Orchiectomies
D012083 Renin A highly specific (Leu-Leu) endopeptidase that generates ANGIOTENSIN I from its precursor ANGIOTENSINOGEN, leading to a cascade of reactions which elevate BLOOD PRESSURE and increase sodium retention by the kidney in the RENIN-ANGIOTENSIN SYSTEM. The enzyme was formerly listed as EC 3.4.99.19. Angiotensin-Forming Enzyme,Angiotensinogenase,Big Renin,Cryorenin,Inactive Renin,Pre-Prorenin,Preprorenin,Prorenin,Angiotensin Forming Enzyme,Pre Prorenin,Renin, Big,Renin, Inactive
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
D001652 Bile Ducts The channels that collect and transport the bile secretion from the BILE CANALICULI, the smallest branch of the BILIARY TRACT in the LIVER, through the bile ductules, the bile ducts out the liver, and to the GALLBLADDER for storage. Bile Duct,Duct, Bile,Ducts, Bile
D013094 Spermatozoa Mature male germ cells derived from SPERMATIDS. As spermatids move toward the lumen of the SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES, they undergo extensive structural changes including the loss of cytoplasm, condensation of CHROMATIN into the SPERM HEAD, formation of the ACROSOME cap, the SPERM MIDPIECE and the SPERM TAIL that provides motility. Sperm,Spermatozoon,X-Bearing Sperm,X-Chromosome-Bearing Sperm,Y-Bearing Sperm,Y-Chromosome-Bearing Sperm,Sperm, X-Bearing,Sperm, X-Chromosome-Bearing,Sperm, Y-Bearing,Sperm, Y-Chromosome-Bearing,Sperms, X-Bearing,Sperms, X-Chromosome-Bearing,Sperms, Y-Bearing,Sperms, Y-Chromosome-Bearing,X Bearing Sperm,X Chromosome Bearing Sperm,X-Bearing Sperms,X-Chromosome-Bearing Sperms,Y Bearing Sperm,Y Chromosome Bearing Sperm,Y-Bearing Sperms,Y-Chromosome-Bearing Sperms
D017207 Rats, Sprague-Dawley A strain of albino rat used widely for experimental purposes because of its calmness and ease of handling. It was developed by the Sprague-Dawley Animal Company. Holtzman Rat,Rats, Holtzman,Sprague-Dawley Rat,Rats, Sprague Dawley,Holtzman Rats,Rat, Holtzman,Rat, Sprague-Dawley,Sprague Dawley Rat,Sprague Dawley Rats,Sprague-Dawley Rats
D051381 Rats The common name for the genus Rattus. Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus

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