Effect of albumin on proluminal movement of 3H-androgen into seminiferous and epididymal tubules and androgen binding in the interstitium of the testis and epididymis after perifusion with fluid containing albumin.

Effect of albumin on proluminal androgen movement from the peritubular space to the intratubular fluids of the adult rat testis and epididymis was examined by using in vivo microperifusion and subsequent micro-puncture of the seminiferous tubules and caput epididymal tubules. Tubules were perfused with four different fluids: (1) Minimum Essential Medium (MEM) containing 3H-testosterone and 14C-polyethyleneglycol (PEG) alone; (2) MEM + 8 mg/ml Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) containing the same radiolabeled compounds as above; (3) MEM + 80 mg/ml albumin containing the same radiolabeled compounds as above; and (4) Testosterone-free rat serum containing the same radiolabeled compounds as above. Bound 3H-androgens in the interstitial fluids of the testis and epididymis after one-hour perifusion with the four different fluids above were measured by charcoal assay. In the testis, proluminal 3H-androgen movement was not significantly altered by addition of albumin to the perifusion fluid (p = 0.08). Bound 3H-androgens in the interstitial fluid after perifusion were significantly increased with increasing albumin concentrations in the perifusion fluid. In the caput epididymis, proluminal 3H-androgen movement was significantly decreased with increasing albumin concentration in the perifusion fluid. Bound 3H-androgens in the interstitial fluid after perifusion were significantly increased with increasing albumin concentrations in the perifusion fluid (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that proluminal transepithelial movement of 3H-androgens in the reproductive tract could be influenced by the presence of albumin, androgen-binding protein or some other binding protein in the peritubular space.