Department Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction, Faculty Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada.
Reproduction, Mother and Youth Health Division, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada.
Andrology. 2019 Sep;7(5):748-757. doi: 10.1111/andr.12633. Epub 2019 Apr 29.
The epididymis is the hallmark of all vertebrate species practicing internal fertilization. While the functions of the epididymis are well documented in laboratory rodents and some domestic animals, the structure and functions of the epididymis in humans remain poorly documented.
Using human tissues obtained with the collaboration of our local organ transplantation program, the histology, cell types, and three-dimensional organization of the excurrent duct were investigated. Microarrays were performed to determine the gene expression pattern along the human epididymis.
The histology of longitudinal sections of the proximal epididymis was described, and immunohistochemistry using specific antibodies was used to characterize cell types of the efferent duct and caput epididymis epithelia. The epididymis was divided into eight segments permitting gene profiling by microarray and gene ontology analysis.
The proximal region of the human epididymis is formed exclusively by efferent ducts. These ducts form a complex histological structure particularly at the junction of the efferent ducts and caput epididymis. The efferent ducts exhibit a specific cellular signature when compared with the adjacent epididymis tubule. Efferent duct gene expression is not segmented and is dedicated to cilium differentiation and movement. The gene expression pattern of the caput segment is homogeneous and specialized in defense and immune responses and fertilization.
In murine species, the epididymis is segmented into the initial segment, caput, corpus, and cauda regions, whereas in humans, the proximal region is formed by efferent ducts. The caput tubules have their own histological organization with a well-defined gene expression pattern. The distal corpus and cauda epididymis are distinct by a limited number of differentially expressed genes.
Knowledge of epididymis functions and structure obtained using laboratory species should be extrapolated to humans with caution.
附睾是所有进行体内受精的脊椎动物的标志。虽然附睾的功能在实验室啮齿动物和一些家畜中得到了很好的记录，但人类附睾的结构和功能仍记录甚少。
利用我们当地器官移植项目合作获得的人体组织，研究了输出管的组织学、细胞类型和三维结构。进行了微阵列分析以确定沿人附睾的基因表达模式。
描述了近端附睾的纵切片的组织学，并使用特异性抗体进行免疫组织化学染色以鉴定输出管和附睾头部上皮的细胞类型。将附睾分为八个节段，允许通过微阵列和基因本体分析进行基因分析。
人附睾的近端区域完全由输出管形成。这些导管形成了一种复杂的组织学结构，特别是在输出管和附睾头部的交界处。与相邻的附睾小管相比，输出管表现出特定的细胞特征。与相邻的附睾小管相比，输出管表现出特定的细胞特征。与相邻的附睾小管相比，输出管表现出特定的细胞特征。与相邻的附睾小管相比，输出管表现出特定的细胞特征。输出管的基因表达没有分段，专门用于纤毛分化和运动。头部段的基因表达模式是均匀的，专门用于防御和免疫反应以及受精。
在鼠科动物中，附睾分为初始段、头部、体部和尾部区域，而在人类中，近端区域由输出管形成。头部小管具有自己的组织学结构，具有明确的基因表达模式。远端体部和尾部附睾通过有限数量的差异表达基因来区分。
使用实验室物种获得的附睾功能和结构知识应谨慎外推到人类。
