Different expression of B7-H3 in the caput, corpus, and cauda of the epididymis in mouse

BMC Urology

Xuefeng Zhang¹  Xuedong Wei¹  Miao Li¹  Hexing Yuan¹  Kai Li¹  Chenhao Zhou¹  Jianquan Hou¹  Guangbo Zhang² 

[1] Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University;The Institute of Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University;

关键词: B7-H3;    Caput;    Corpus;    Cauda;    Epididymis;    Sperm maturation;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12894-017-0215-5

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background B7-H3, a member of the B7 family of the Ig superfamily of proteins, has been detected in the epididymis, which is a storage organ related to sperm maturation. However, the characteristics of its expression in different regions of the epididymis remain unknown. Our aim was to investigate the expression of B7-H3 in the caput, corpus, and cauda of the epididymis. Methods We extracted epididymis specimens from adult male C57BL/6 mice. The expression of B7-H3 was then measured with immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blotting. Results B7-H3 protein was predominantly detected on the membrane and in the cytoplasm of the principal cells in the epididymis. Moreover, the level of B7-H3 in the corpus of the mouse epididymis was significantly higher than that in the caput (p < 0.05) or the cauda of the epididymis (P < 0.05). However, there was no remarkable difference in the level of B7-H3 between the caput and the cauda (p > 0.05). Conclusions The caput, corpus, and cauda of the mouse epididymis all expressed B7-H3 protein. However, the levels of B7-H3 were different in the three regions of the epididymis.

【 授权许可】

Unknown