| Groups |
Cell Types |
PIS |
DIS/IZ |
Caput |
Corpus |
Cauda |
|
| Control |
Principal |
- |
CB|| (N) |
CB (N) |
CB (N) |
CB (N) |
|
Narrow/apical¶ |
+++ |
- |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Basal |
++ |
- |
- |
+++ (N) |
- |
| Orchidectomy |
Principal |
- |
CB (N) |
CB (N) |
CB (N) |
CB (N) |
|
Narrow/apical |
- |
- |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Basal |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Orchidectomy + testosterone supplementation |
Principal |
- |
CB (N) |
CB (N) |
CB (N) |
CB (N) |
|
Narrow/apical |
- |
- |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Basal |
- |
- |
- |
+++ (N) |
- |
| Efferent duct ligation |
Principal |
- |
CB (N) |
CB (N) |
CB (N) |
CB (N) |
|
Narrow/apical |
- |
- |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Basal |
- |
- |
- |
+++ (N) |
- |
|
| *The data were similar at all time points after the different experimental
treatments. |
| PIS indicates proximal initial segment; DIS, distal initial segment;
IZ, intermediate zone; Caput, Corpus, and Cauda, regions of the epididymis. |
| The number of plus signs is directly proportional to the relative
intensity of the immunoperoxidase reaction over the cytoplasm, with +
representing a weak, ++ a moderate, and +++ an intense reaction, whereas -
denotes the absence of a reaction. |
| N indicates a reaction also exists over the nucleus. |
| ||CB or checkerboard-staining pattern refers to the fact that principal
cells of the caput, corpus, and cauda regions display a variable cytoplasmic
and nuclear reaction ranging from intense to moderate to weak, and even the
absence of reaction. Although qualitative in nature, these data give an
overall impression of the status of reactivity based on consistent findings
from at least 4 slides for each animal of each experimental group in the case
of the different cell types of each epididymal region. |
| ¶Narrow/apical cells are only present in the PIS, DIS/IZ; N/A, not
applicable, indicates that these cells are not found in the caput, corpus, and
cauda epididymidis. |
|
