Aberrant Expression of Cx Isoforms in the Adult Caput Epididymis exposed to Estradiol Benzoate or Flutamide at the Weaning.

Connexin ( Cx ) involves in the regulation of various physiological functions of tissue by forming a channel, a gap junction which allows direct cell-cell communication, between adjacent cells. The effect of a single subcutaneous treatment of estradiol benzoate (EB) or flutamide (Flu) at the weaning age on the expression of Cx isoforms in the adult caput epididymis was evaluated in this research. Using quantitative real-time PCR analysis, a low-dose of EB [0.015 μg/kg body weight (BW)] caused significant decreases of Cx 30.3, Cx 32, Cx 40, Cx 43, and Cx 45 mRNA levels and no change of Cx 26, Cx 31, Cx 31.1, Cx 37 transcript levels. The treatment of a high-dose EB (1.5 μg/kg BW) resulted in reduced expression of Cx 30.3, Cx 31, Cx 43, and Cx 45 but increased expression of Cx 37 and Cx 40. Expression of all Cx isoforms examined, except Cx 31, was significantly increased by the treatment of a low-dose Flu (500 μg/kg BW). However, the treatment of a high-dose Flu (5 mg/kg BW) led significant expressional suppression of Cx 30.3, Cx 31, Cx 31.1, Cx 32, Cx 40, Cx 43, and Cx 45 but an increase of Cx 37 transcript level. With the comparison of previous findings, the expression of Cx isoforms in the adult epididymis after the exposure to EB or Flu is likely differentially regulated in regional-specific and/or exposed postnatal age-specific manner.