Study of Epididymal Function in the Rhesus Monkey(Macaca Mulata): Androgen Dependent Proteins, Their Characterization and Regional Distribution

Abstract

In order tom enhance our understanding of epididymal functions, a one year research project (sept. 1984 to aug. 1985) was undertaken and completed to characterized androgen dependent and regional distribution of specific epididymal proteins in the rhesus monkey in different physiogical status. The protein pattern in the soluble fraction of the epididumal cytosol obtained from adult monkeys (a; intact, b; castrated and c; castrated treated with testosterone) was studies by polacrylamide gel electrophoresis (both on non –denaturing and denaturing conditions) and isoelectricfocusing in polyacrylamide gels. At least five distinct protein components have showed to be synthesized in the monkey epididymis under androgen stimulus. Castration for one month resulted in the disappearance of two of these protein bands and a marked reduction in the colour intensity of other three protein components. However, testosterone treatment (10mg testosterone propionate daily for 6 days) restarted for normal pattern of epididymal proteins. Further electrophotryic analysis of various region of epididymis showed that four protein components were uniformly distributed in the cutup, corpus and caudal, while An extra one was founded to be present in the caudal region. The molecular weight of these proteins was founded to vary between 15,000 and 61,000 Daltons. Electrofocusingf of epididymal cytosol from intact, castrated and testosterone treated castrated monkeys also confirmed the presence of five androgen dependent proteins having p1, s between 5.4 to 6.4 .