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Thyroid hormone receptor α1–β1 expression in epididymal epithelium from euthyroid and hypothyroid rats

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Abstract

The objectives of the present work were to assess whether epithelial cells from the different segments of epididymis express TRα1–β1 isoforms, to depict its subcellular immunolocalization and to evaluate changes in their expression in rats experimentally submitted to a hypothyroid state by injection of 131I. In euthyroid and hypothyroid groups, TR protein was expressed in epididymal epithelial cells, mainly in the cytoplasmic compartment while only a few one showed a staining in the nucleus as well. A similar TR immunostaining pattern was detected in the different segments of the epididymis. In hypothyroid rats, the number of TR-immunoreactive epithelial cells as well as the intensity of the cytoplasmic staining significantly increased in all sections analyzed. In consonance to the immunocytochemical analysis, the expression of TRα1–β1 isoforms, assessed by Western blot revealed significantly higher levels of TR in cytosol compared to the nuclear fractions. Furthermore, TR expression of both α1 and β1 isoforms and their mRNA levels were increased by the hypothyroid state. The immuno-electron-microscopy showed specific reaction for TR in principal cells associated with eucromatin, cytosolic matrix and mitochondria. The differences in expression levels assessed in control and thyroidectomized rats ascertain a specific function of TH on this organ.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Mrs. Mercedes Guevara for her excellent technical assistance. We are particularly indebted to Biochem. Félix D. Roth for his precious help in computer imaging. We would also like to thank native speaker Dr. Paul Hobson for revising the English of the manuscript. This work was supported by grants from Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Fondos para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (FONCyT) and the Secretaría de Ciencia y Tecnología de la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (SECyT).

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  1. Centro de Microscopía Electrónica, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina

    Ana Lucía De Paul, Jorge Humberto Mukdsi, Silvina Gutiérrez, Cristina Alicia Maldonado & Alicia Inés Torres

  2. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina

    Claudia Gabriela Pellizas, María Montesinos & Sebastián Susperreguy

  3. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Alberto Del Río

  4. Haya de La Torre esquina Enrique Barros, Pabellón de Biología Celular, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, 5000, Argentina

    Alicia Inés Torres

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  1. Ana Lucía De Paul
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  2. Jorge Humberto Mukdsi
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Correspondence to Alicia Inés Torres.

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De Paul, A.L., Mukdsi, J.H., Pellizas, C.G. et al. Thyroid hormone receptor α1–β1 expression in epididymal epithelium from euthyroid and hypothyroid rats. Histochem Cell Biol 129, 631–642 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-008-0397-8

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