Abstract
BackgroundB7-H3, a member of the B7 family of the Ig superfamily of proteins, has been detected in the epididymis, which is a storage organ related to sperm maturation. However, the characteristics of its expression in different regions of the epididymis remain unknown. Our aim was to investigate the expression of B7-H3 in the caput, corpus, and cauda of the epididymis.MethodsWe extracted epididymis specimens from adult male C57BL/6 mice. The expression of B7-H3 was then measured with immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blotting.ResultsB7-H3 protein was predominantly detected on the membrane and in the cytoplasm of the principal cells in the epididymis. Moreover, the level of B7-H3 in the corpus of the mouse epididymis was significantly higher than that in the caput (p < 0.05) or the cauda of the epididymis (P < 0.05). However, there was no remarkable difference in the level of B7-H3 between the caput and the cauda (p > 0.05).ConclusionsThe caput, corpus, and cauda of the mouse epididymis all expressed B7-H3 protein. However, the levels of B7-H3 were different in the three regions of the epididymis.
Highlights
B7-H3, a member of the B7 family of the Ig superfamily of proteins, has been detected in the epididymis, which is a storage organ related to sperm maturation
We focused on: (1) whether B7-H3 is expressed in all regions of the mouse epididymis, and (2) whether the levels of B7-H3 expressed in the caput, corpus, and cauda of the mouse epididymis are different
Our results showed that the level of B7-H3 in the corpus of the epididymis was significantly higher than that in the caput and in the cauda of the epididymis
Summary
B7-H3, a member of the B7 family of the Ig superfamily of proteins, has been detected in the epididymis, which is a storage organ related to sperm maturation. Our aim was to investigate the expression of B7-H3 in the caput, corpus, and cauda of the epididymis. The epididymis is divided into caput, corpus, and cauda regions. This conventional division has been widely used in studies on the biological functions of the epididymis, including studies of gene expression, protein secretion, and many aspects of sperm maturation [1]. The epididymis provides a specific environment which plays an essential role in promoting the final maturation of sperm [2]. It can take sperm a few days to weeks to travel throughout the epididymis. During this time almost all of sperm gradually acquire natural fertilizing ability – including progressive motility, the ability to undergo capacitation and hyperactivation [3]
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