Effect of hCG on the morphology of rat epididymal epithelial cells in vitro

The epididymis is an androgen-dependent organ. The hormones regulate the morphology and secretory activity of the epididymal epithelial cells. The cells in vitro resume their function as in vivo and also reveal features of steroidogenic cells. It can be expected that, as with Leydig cells, the morphology and function of the cells can be regulated by LH/hCG. The aim of the study was to assess the morphology of epididymal epithelial cells in vitro after stimulation with hCG. The experiment was performed on cells isolated from sexually mature rats. The epididymal epithelial cells were cultured in a medium with the addition of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Moreover, the cells were cultured in the medium with DHT and without DHT but enriched with hCG. The epididymal epithelial cells cultured with DHT formed a monolayer and accumulated glycogen, a PAS-positive substance and lipid droplets. The cells cultured without DHT were stellate in shape and low in glycogen and PASpositive substance but they contained lipid droplets. The morphology of epididymal epithelial cells cultured without DHT but after stimulation with hCG was similar to the morphology of the cells cultured with DHT. This was the first sign that the morphology of the cells can be influenced by hCG

The Immunoexpression of FSH-R in the Ductuli Efferentes and the Epididymis of Men and Rat: Effect of FSH on the Morphology and Steroidogenic Activity of Rat Epididymal Epithelial Cells In Vitro

The Sertoli cells were regarded as the only target for FSH in male reproductive system. The expression of FSH receptor (FSH-R) was detected also in epithelial cells of the caput epididymis of rat and monkey. We showed in the immunohistochemistry study the expression of FSH-R in rat and human ductuli efferentes and the caput, corpus, and cauda epididymis, moreover, by Western blot analysis in the caput and cauda epididymis of rat. Additionally, we presented that the morphology of rat epididymal epithelial cells in vitro was affected by FSH, and FSH stimulation resulted in the increase of 17β-estradiol synthesis by rat caput epididymal cells in dose-depended manner. In conclusion, the identification of FSH receptors in human and rat epididymides supports our results that the epididymis is a target organ not only for LH but additionally for FSH. On the basis of the results we showed for the first time that morphology of epididymal epithelial cells and epididymal steroidogenesis can be regulated by FSH