Abstract
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) plays multiple important functions in adaptive responses. Exposure to AhR ligands may produce an altered metabolic activity controlled by the AhR pathways, and consequently affect drug/toxin responses, hormonal status and cellular homeostasis. This research revealed species-, cell- and region-specific pattern of the AhR system expression in the rat and human testis and epididymis, complementing the existing knowledge, especially within the epididymal segments. The study showed that AhR level in the rat and human epididymis is higher than in the testis. The downregulation of AhR expression after TCDD treatment was revealed in the spermatogenic cells at different stages and the epididymal epithelial cells, but not in the Sertoli and Leydig cells. Hence, this basic research provides information about the AhR function in the testis and epididymis, which may provide an insight into deleterious effects of drugs, hormones and environmental pollutants on male fertility.
Keywords:
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor; Epididymis; TCDD; Testis.
Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
MeSH terms
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ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B / genetics
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ATP-Binding Cassette Sub-Family B Member 4
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ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / genetics
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Aged
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Animals
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Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Nuclear Translocator / genetics
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics
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Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / genetics
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Cytochrome P-450 CYP1B1 / genetics
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Environmental Pollutants / toxicity
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Epididymis / cytology
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Epididymis / drug effects
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Epididymis / metabolism*
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Epithelial Cells / drug effects
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Epithelial Cells / metabolism
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Humans
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Organic Anion Transporters, Sodium-Independent / genetics
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Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / toxicity
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / genetics
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Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / metabolism*
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Repressor Proteins / genetics
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Testis / cytology
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Testis / drug effects
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Testis / metabolism*
Substances
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ARNT protein, rat
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ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B
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ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
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Abcc2 protein, rat
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Ahrr protein, rat
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
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Environmental Pollutants
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Organic Anion Transporters, Sodium-Independent
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Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins
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RNA, Messenger
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Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon
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Repressor Proteins
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Slco1a5 protein, rat
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Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Nuclear Translocator
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Cyp1b1 protein, rat
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Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1
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Cytochrome P-450 CYP1B1