Pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) expression in the male tract of Wistar rats

Maria Ines Conte, Maria Eugenia Cabrillana, Tania Estefania Saez Lancellotti, Layla Simon, Abi Karenina Funes, Niubys Cayado-Gutiérrez, Matias Gustavo Tagle-Delgado, Amanda Edith Vincenti, Maria Elis Lopez, Elisa Olivia Pietrobon, Miguel Walter Fornes, Maria Angeles Monclus

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) expression has been described in many organs as showing neurotrophic, anti-angiogenic, anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and pro-cell survival properties. However, references to its activity in the male reproductive system are scarce. We aimed to characterize the expression of PEDF in the male reproductive tract of Wistar rats by using RT-PCR, western blot and immunostaining and also evaluate the effect of flutamide in PEDF expression. We found that PEDF is expressed in the epididymis, prostate and seminal vesicles in Wistar rats, but notably not in the testes. Under the effect of flutamide PEDF expression decreased, recovering by suppressing the antiandrogen. The epididymis is an essential organ in sperm maturation-storages. The role of PEDF in this physiological process has not been fully elucidated yet, but considering that in other systems PEDF has anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidants and pro-cell survival properties, its expression along the epididymis could play a role in the protection of spermatozoa while they are stored.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)257-262
Number of pages6
JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Volume504
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 26 Sep 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Epididymis
  • Flutamide
  • PEDF
  • Sperm

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