Expression profiles of human epididymis epithelial cells reveal the functional diversity of caput, corpus and cauda regions.

ABSTRACT:

Study hypothesis

Region-specific transcriptional profiling of tissues and cultured epithelial cells from the human epididymis will predict functional specialization along the duct.

Study finding

We identified the molecular signature driving functions of the caput, corpus and cauda epithelium, and determined how these differ to establish the regional differentiation of the organ.

What is known already

The epithelium lining the human male genital ducts has a critical role in fertility. In particular, it controls the luminal environment in the epididymis, which is required for normal sperm maturation and reproductive competence. Studies in many animal species have largely informed our understanding of the molecular basis of epididymis function. However, there are substan

SUBMITTER: Browne JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4733224 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature