Background: Maternal protein restriction causes sperm alterations in the offspring, most of which are associated with epididymal functions. Because fluid reabsorption/secretion dynamics in the epididymal environment play important roles in the process of sperm maturation and concentration, we investigated the effects of maternal protein restriction on the expression of aquaporins (AQP1 and AQP9), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFa), and its receptor VEGFr-2 in different stages of postnatal epididymal development. Methods: Pregnant rats were divided into groups that received normoprotein (17% protein) and low-protein diets (6% protein) during gestation and lactation. After weaning, male rats only received the standard diet and were euthanized at the predetermined ages of 21, 44 and 120 days. Results: Maternal protein restriction decreased AQP1 and AQP9 expression in the initial segment and caput epididymis compared to the increased expression of these proteins observed in the corpus and cauda at all ages. Although protein restriction reduced the microvasculature density (MVD) on postnatal day (PND) 21 and 44, the MVD was unaltered on PND 120. Conclusions: Maternal protein restriction changed the structure or function of the offspring’s epididymis, specifically by affecting fluid dynamics and vasculogenesis in important stages of epididymis development.

Background:The mechanisms by which the rete testis joins the efferent ducts, which joins the Wolffian duct during development, are not known. Mouse and chick models have been helpful in identifying genes that are important for the development of each part, but genes have not been identified as to those that play a role in the joining of each part. Clinical implications of the failure of the male reproductive tract to form a fully functional conduit for spermatozoa are not trivial. Epididymal disjunction, the failure of the efferent ducts to join the testis, is one of several epididymal anomalies that have been observed in some boys who were cryptorchid at birth. Objective: A systematic review of studies focusing on the morphogenesis of the mesonephric duct and mesonephric tubules in different species, and identification of clinical issues should there be failure of these tissues to develop. Design: PubMed and GUDMAP databases, and review of books on kidney development were searched for studies reporting on the mechanisms of morphogenesis of the kidney and epididymis. Main outcomes measure(s): Gaps in our knowledge were identified, and hypotheses coupled with suggestions for future experiments were presented. Results: A total of 64 papers were identified as relevant, of which 53 were original research articles and 11 were book chapters and reviews covering morphogenesis and clinical issues. Investigators utilized multiple species including, human, mouse, chick, Xenopus, bovine, and sheep. Conclusion: Fundamental understanding of the morphogenesis of the male reproductive tract is limited, especially the morphogenesis of the rete testis and efferent ducts. Therefore, it is not surprising that we do not understand how each part unites to form a whole. Only one mechanism of joining of one part of the tract to another was identified: the joining of the Wolffian duct to the cloaca via controlled apoptosis.

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This study evaluated the protective effects of resveratrol on the prostate development of rats exposed to TCDD. Pregnant rats received TCDD (1 μg/kg) at GD15 and/or RES (20 mg/kg/day) from GD10 to PND21. Newborn and adult males from Control, TCDD, TCDD + RES and RES groups were euthanized and the prostate was excised. On PND1, there was a reduction in the number of prostatic buds, AR-positive mesenchymal cells and proliferation index in epithelial and mesenchymal cells in TCDD group, but restored by RES. AhR immunoreactivity was greater in TCDD group than the other groups. On PND90, there was higher frequency of functional hyperplasia in the distal area of the prostate acini in TCDD group, but restored by RES. AhRR expression was higher in the TCDD while NRF2 was higher in the TCDD + RES compared to the other groups. Resveratrol was able to reduce the adverse effects of TCDD on prostate development and its long-term repercussions.

Head and neck cancers are common in several regions of the world and the treatment usually includes radiotherapy. This treatment can generate adverse effects to the salivary flow, with a relationship between the dose and the damage caused. Salivary gland cells are highly permeable to water and therefore, they express aquaporins (AQPs). This study analyzed changes in the expression and location of these proteins and identified morphological changes induced by low radiation in rat submandibular gland. Female rats were divided into control and irradiated groups. Immunohistochemistry analysis allowed confirming the presence of AQP1 in the blood vessel endothelium. Intense and steady labelling granules were also observed in the cytoplasm of submandibular gland ductal cells. In addition, there was AQP5 positive labelling in ductal cells delimiting the lumen of intercalated duct, in the cytoplasm and membrane of acinar cells. Finally, the decrease of AQP labelling in irradiated animal glands validated their radiosensitivity. Thus, the decrease in AQP1 protein levels in the endothelium and AQP5 in gland ductal cells of irradiated animals may have hindered the removal of water from the lumen of ductal cells, inducing a delay in water absorption and triggering a slight lumen increase.

Prostate morphogenesis is regulated by androgens hormones and modulated by morphogenetic proteins such as Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs). This study aims to investigate the effects on prostate development in male offspring and differentiation after gestational and lactational maternal exposure to Di-n-butyl-phthalate (DBP), an important environmental contamination. Pregnant Wistar rats received 100 or 500mg/kg of DBP (DBP100 and DBP500), by gavage, from gestation day 15 (GD15) until postnatal day 21 (PND21). The pups were euthanized on PND1 and PND21. Anogenital distance and testosterone levels decreased in animals from exposed mothers (DBP100 and 500) on PND1. A three-dimensional reconstruction model of the prostatic urethra showed reduction in the prostatic buds in the DBP500 group. AR expression and α-actin immunoreactivity decreased, and BMP-4 expression was lower on PND1 for DBP500. These results showed that DBP exposure, especially at a higher dose, delayed prostate morphogenesis by reducing the testosterone/AR axis and BMP-4 expression.

No abstract

The present study investigated the angiotensin II (Ang II) responses in rat femoral veins taken from 2-kidney-1clip (2K1C) hypertensive rats at 4 weeks after clipping, as well as the effects of exercise on these responses. In this manner, femoral veins taken from 2K1C rats kept at rest or exposed to acute exercise or to exercise training were challenged with Ang II or endothelin-1 (ET-1) in organ bath. Simultaneously, the presence of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were determined in these preparations by western blotting. In these experiments, femoral veins exhibited subdued Ang II responses. However, after nitric oxide (NO) synthesis blockade, the responses were higher in the femoral veins taken from animals kept at rest [0.137(0.049–0.245); n = 10] than those obtained in trained animals kept at rest [0.008(0.001–0.041); n = 10] or studied after a single bout of exercise [0.001(0.001–0.054); n = 11]. In preparations in which, in addition to NO synthesis, both the local production of prostanoids and the action of ET-1 on type A (ETA) or B (ETB) receptors were inhibited, the differences induced by exercise were no longer observed. In addition, neither ET-1 responses nor the presence of COX-1 and COX-2 in these preparations were modified by the employed exercise protocols. In conclusion, NO maintains Ang II responses reduced in femoral veins of 2K1C animals at rest. However, vasodilator prostanoids as well as other relaxing mechanisms, activated by ETB stimulation, are mobilized by exercise to cooperate with NO in order to maintain controlled Ang II responses in femoral veins.