Identification of androgen-dependent proteins synthesized in vitro by the ram epididymis.

Protein synthesis has been investigated in different regions of the epididymis from normal rams, castrate rams, and castrate testosterone supplemented rams. Results show that there are few differences in the pattern of [35S]methionine-labelled proteins synthesized in different regions of the normal epididymis despite the variation in the morphology of the epithelial cells lining the duct. Three androgen-dependent proteins of molecular weights 24000, 64000 and approximately 200 000 were identified. Testosterone did not stimulate protein synthesis in the proximal caput epididymidis (region 1-3), suggesting that testicular fluid is important in maintaining the activity of epididymal cells in this area.