Hormonal Regulation of Specific Proteins in the Rat Epididymis

Abstract

In the adult caput epididymidis, three specific prealbumin proteins (B₂, B₃, and B₄) could be visualized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Castration caused the disappearance of B₂and B₄, and B₃became faint. Androgen administration to castrated rat restored the protein pattern to normal. In the cauda epididymidis of the control rat, four prealbumin proteins (B₁-B₄were seen of which only B₃was evident after castration. The dose of androgen administered was insufficient to restore the protein pattern of the cauda epididymidis. The caput epididymidis thus appears to have a lower androgen requirement than the cauda in regard to its protein pattern.

Key Words:

• Epididymis
• Protein composition
• Androgen requirement
• Castration.