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Effects of orchidectomy, efferent duct ligation, and hypophysectomy on cathepsin D expression in adult rat epididymis^a^b

Groups	Cell types	IS	IZ	Caput	Corpus	Cauda

Control	Principal^c	+	+	++	++	++
	Narrow/clear^d	++	++	++	-	-
	Basal	+	++	+	-	-
Orchidectomy	Principal	+	+	++	++	++
	Narrow/clear	++	++	++	++	++
	Basal	+	++	+	-	-
Orchidectomy and testosterone supplementation	Principal	+	+	++	++	++
	Narrow/clear	++	++	++	-	-
	Basal	+	++	+	-	-
Efferent duct ligation	Principal	+	+	++	++	++
	Narrow/clear	++	++	++	-	-
	Basal	+	++	+	-	-
Hypophysectomy	Principal	+	+	++	++	++
	Narrow/clear	++	++	++	++	++
	Basal	+	++	+	-	-

^aData were similar at all time points after the different experimental treatments.
^bIS indicates initial segment; IZ, intermediate zone.
^cFor principal cells, the number of plus signs is directly proportional to the relative number of reactive lysosomes within these cells, ++ indicates that many spherical lysosomes were evident, +, few lysosomes were evident. For narrow, clear, and basal cells, ++ indicates intense reaction; +, moderate reaction; and -, absence of reaction. Although qualitative in nature, these data give an overall impression of the status of reactivity in the different epithelial cells based on at least 4 slides from each animal of each experimental group.
^dNarrow cells are present only in the IS and IZ, whereas clear cells are present in the caput, corpus, and cauda epididymidis.