Localization of estrogen receptor α in adult male albino rat reproductive tract

Abstract

Introduction There is a considerable variation within and between species in reports of estrogen receptors’ localization in the male reproductive tract. Aim of the work The aim of this work is to detect sites of estrogen receptor α (ERα) in different parts of the male rat genital system. Materials and methods Eight adult rats were anesthetized and scarified. Testis, efferent ductules, epididymis, vas deferens, and prostate specimens were taken; paraffin sections were prepared and stained with H&E and immunohistochemical stains for the detection of ERα. Results ERα was detected only in Leydig cells of testis. In efferent ductules, ERα was strongly expressed in epithelial cells whereas stromal cells were moderately positive. In epididymis, a few narrow cells of the head, some principal cells in the body showed a moderate positive reaction, and very few apical and basal cells in the tail showed a weak reaction. Stromal cells of the epididymis showed a strong positive immunoreaction in the head and body, whereas in the tail they were weakly positive. In the vas deferens, ERα immunopositivity was absent in epithelial cells but was detected in the stromal cells. Similarly, prostatic epithelium was ERα immunonegative, whereas stromal cells were immunopositive. The area% of ERα immunoexpression, the mean epithelial number, and the mean stromal number of immunopositive ERα cells showed a significant difference among different parts of the male genital tract. The highest area% of immunoexpression and the number of ERα-immunopositive cells in the epithelium were detected in efferent ductules. Conclusion ERα was selectively expressed along the reproductive tract only by Leydig cells of testis, with the highest expression in the efferent ductules. Therefore, the present work reports the effects of exposure to environmental endocrine disruptors, and also provides potential targets for development of nonandrogen male contraceptive methods.