Institut « Génétique Reproduction & Développement », UMR CNRS 6293 - Inserm U1103 - Université Clermont Auvergne, Faculté de Médecine, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Université Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, US 41 - UAR 2014-PLBS, Lille, France.
Elife. 2023 Jun 13;12:e82748. doi: 10.7554/eLife.82748.
Long considered an accessory tubule of the male reproductive system, the epididymis is proving to be a key determinant of male fertility. In addition to its secretory role in ensuring functional maturation and survival of spermatozoa, the epididymis has a complex immune function. Indeed, it must manage both peripheral tolerance to sperm antigens foreign to the immune system and the protection of spermatozoa as well as the organ itself against pathogens ascending the epididymal tubule. Although our knowledge of the immunobiology of this organ is beginning to accumulate at the molecular and cellular levels, the organization of blood and lymphatic networks of this tissue, important players in the immune response, remains largely unknown. In the present report, we have taken advantage of a VEGFR3:YFP transgenic mouse model. Using high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) imaging and organ clearing coupled with multiplex immunodetections of lymphatic (LYVE1, PDPN, PROX1) and/or blood (PLVAP/Meca32) markers, we provide a simultaneous deep 3D view of the lymphatic and blood epididymal vasculature in the mature adult mouse as well as during postnatal development.
附睾长期以来被认为是男性生殖系统的附属小管,但现在被证明是男性生育能力的关键决定因素。除了在确保精子功能成熟和存活方面的分泌作用外,附睾还具有复杂的免疫功能。事实上,它必须同时管理外周对免疫系统外来精子抗原的耐受以及保护精子和器官本身免受沿附睾管上升的病原体的侵害。尽管我们对该器官的免疫生物学的认识开始在分子和细胞水平上积累,但该组织的血液和淋巴管网络的组织,在免疫反应中是重要的参与者,仍然在很大程度上是未知的。在本报告中,我们利用了一个 VEGFR3:YFP 转基因小鼠模型。使用高分辨率三维 (3D) 成像和器官清除技术,结合淋巴管 (LYVE1、PDPN、PROX1) 和/或血液 (PLVAP/Meca32) 标志物的多重免疫检测,我们提供了成熟成年小鼠以及出生后发育过程中附睾的淋巴管和血液血管的同时深层 3D 视图。