Four aspects of the function of the vas deferens were examined by light microscope immunocytochemistry of Bouin-fixed, paraffin-embedded material. First, the expression of aquaporin-1 by endothelial cells of the vascular channels in the lamina propria of the distal region, suggested water transport from the lumen of the vas deferens via the dilated intercellular spaces to underlying vascular channels, the function of which may be to concentrate sperm. Second, the expression of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase by principal cells was indicative of steroid synthesis. Third, the ability of the vas deferens to create a special environment for protecting spermatozoa in the lumen was investigated using anti-glutathione S-transferase (GST) antibodies. Both principal and basal cells showed varying degrees of GST expression in the different regions of the cauda and vas deferens, suggesting a complex, changing environment of substrates to which epithelial cells and sperm are subjected. Fourth, the epithelial cells lining the cauda epididymidis and vas deferens were investigated for their secretory and endocytic functions. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.21502 |
| Date | January 1999 |
| Creators | Andonian, Sero Barkev. |
| Contributors | Hermo, Louis (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Science (Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001652198, proquestno: MQ50708, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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