A subset of basal cells (BCs) in the initial segment (IS) of the @entity19 epididymis have a slender body projection between adjacent epithelial cells. We show here that these projections occasionally cross the apical tight-junctions and are in contact with the luminal environment. Luminal testicular factors are critical for the establishment of the IS epithelium, and we investigated their role in the regulation of this luminal sensing property. Efferent duct ligation (EDL) was performed to block luminal flow from the testis without affecting blood flow. @entity22981 ( @entity22981 ) labeling showed a time dependent reduction of the percentage of BCs with intercellular projections from 1 day to 5 days after EDL, compared to controls. Double labeling for @entity185 and @entity22981 showed that a subset of BCs undergo apoptosis 1 day after EDL. @entity14160 / @entity22981 double labeling showed a low rate of BC proliferation under basal conditions. However, EDL induced a marked increase in the proliferation rate of a subset of BCs 2 days after EDL. A two-week treatment with the @entity342 receptor antagonist @entity12194 did not affect the number of BCs with intercellular projections, but reduced BC proliferation. @entity12194 treatment also reduced the increase in BC proliferation induced 2 days after EDL. We conclude that, in the adult @entity19 IS: 1) Luminal testicular factors play an important role in the ability of BCs to extend their body projection towards the lumen, and are essential for the survival of a subset of BCs; 2) Androgens play an important role in the proliferation of some of the BCs that survive the initial insult induced by EDL; 3) The formation and elongation of BC intercellular projections do not depend on @entity3800 .

Role of Testicular Luminal Factors on Basal Cell Elongation and Proliferation in the XXXX Epididymis.

@entity14160 :: ('17345(Tax:10090)', 'Gene') :: ['Ki67'] @entity19 :: ('10090', 'Species') :: ['mouse'] @entity12194 :: ('MESH:D005485', 'Chemical') :: ['Flutamide', 'flutamide'] @entity185 :: ('12367(Tax:10090)', 'Gene') :: ['caspase-3'] @entity342 :: ('CHEBI:50113', 'Chemical') :: ['androgen'] @entity22981 :: ('110308(Tax:10090)', 'Gene') :: ['Cytokeratin 5', 'KRT5'] @entity3800 :: ('MESH:D000728', 'Chemical') :: ['androgens']
@entity19 :: (10090,Species) :: ['Mouse']
