Vol 62, No 4 (2003)
Short communication
Published online: 2003-09-05
Localisation of oestrogen receptors (ERalpha and ERbeta) in the human and rat epididymides
Folia Morphol 2003;62(4):467-469.
Abstract
The aim of the study was to compare the localisation of oestrogen receptors
α and β (ER α and ER β) in the human and rat epididymides. In the human epididymis
the immunoexpression for ER α was detected in the nuclei of the caput epithelial
cells, while positive reaction for ER α was observed in the nuclei of the
cauda epithelial cells. In the rat epididymis, immunoexpression for ER α showed
nuclei of the caput and cauda epithelial cells. However, the reaction was stronger
in cells of the caput epididymis. A positive reaction for ER β was observed in
the nuclei of smooth muscle cells of the epididymal duct and in the nuclei of
interstitial tissue cells of the rat caput and cauda epididymis.
We have demonstrated that localisation of ER α and ER β is cell-, region- and
species-dependent.
Keywords: oestrogen receptor alpha and betaimmunohistochemistryhuman and rat epididymis