HIGH-AFFINITY BINDING OF T₃ TO EPIDIDYMIS NUCLEI

Abstract

Thyroid hormones play an important role in epididymal function. Hypothyroid animals experience a significant decrease in the number and forward motility of sperm and a remarkable impairment of epididymal morphology. However, it is yet unknown if such activity is due to direct actions of iodothyronines on the target epididymis. The eventual identification of T₃ receptors in the nucleous of epididymal cells becomes relevant. For this reason, the authors searched for specific high-affinity binding of T₃ to these nuclei. Twenty prepuberal male Wistar rats were used. The testes and epididymis were approached as one unit through a scrotal incision. The fat-free epididymides were subjected to standard techniques to prepare the nuclei for incubations with 125I-T₃

• High-AFFINITY T Binding Receptors Thyroid Gland