Abstract
During maturation and the acquisition of their fertilization potential, male germ cells are subjected to various sequential modifications that occur in the epididymis. Protein addition, reorganization or withdrawal, comprise some of these modifications. Dicarbonyl L-xylulose reductase (DCXR), a multifunctional protein involved in various enzymatic and protein interaction processes in different physiological systems, is one of the proteins added to spermatozoa in the epididymis. DCXR is a well-conserved protein with multiple characteristics including enzymatic activities and mediation of cell-cell interaction. In this study, we characterized the DCXR gene and protein expression in the bovine epididymis. Dicarbonyl L-xylulose reductase mRNA is differentially expressed in the caput, corpus, and cauda epididymide epithelial cells with a higher level observed in the cauda region. Tissue protein expression follows the same pattern as the corresponding mRNA expression with a cytoplasmic and apical distribution in the corpus and cauda epithelial cells, respectively. The protein can also be found with a nuclear localization in cauda epididymidis epithelial cells. Dicarbonyl L-xylulose reductase is secreted in the epididymis luminal compartment in the soluble fraction and is associated with microvesicular elements named epididymosomes. In spermatozoa, the DCXR protein was found in the cytoplasmic and membranous fractions. Expression of the DCXR protein is higher on caput spermatozoa but finally shows a weak detection in semen. These data describe DCXR in the bovine epididymis and reveal that its behavior differs from that found in humans. It seems that, in this model, the DCXR protein might have a questionable involvement in the fertilization process.
Highlights
Through physiological, biochemical, and molecular studies, it has been shown that the epididymis displays an extraordinary complexity at both the structural and functional levels [1]
In agreement with the PCR results, antisense Dicarbonyl Lxylulose reductase (DCXR) cRNA hybridization increases from the caput to the cauda epididymidis, with expression being in the majority, located to the epithelial cells
The variation in DCXR gene expression along the bull epididymis was similar to, but not exactly the same as that observed in its human, hamster, and monkey counterparts [16,17,18]
Summary
Biochemical, and molecular studies, it has been shown that the epididymis displays an extraordinary complexity at both the structural and functional levels [1]. This organ can be divided into three main regions based on their anatomical properties: the caput, PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0120869. DCXR in the Epididymis the corpus, and the cauda followed by the more distal deferent duct Each of these regions possesses a distinct gene expression pattern that relies on specific timing and fine regulation of epididymal gene profiles as documented by several microarray-based studies [2, 3]. Numerous proteins secreted in the epididymal intraluminal compartment have been shown to interact with the maturing spermatozoa
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