Developmental expression of an androgen-regulated epididymal protein

Acidic epididymal glycoprotein (AEG), an androgen-regulated secretory protein of rat epididymis, was quantitated by RIA in epididymal extracts of rats of increasing age. Although detectable at 1 day of age, significant concentrations of AEG were not measured until 20 days; concentrations increased steadily, so that by 120 days of age, AEG represented 10% of total soluble protein. AEG mRNA was detected by Northern blot analysis of RNA from epididymides of 5-day-old animals and rapidly increased in amount between 20 and 35 days, reaching a maximum at 45 days. Using immunohistochemistry, AEG was localized in epididymal epithelial cells at 1 day of age. The number of cells staining for AEG increased markedly after 15 days. At 120 days, the immunoreactivity was predominantly localized to the lumen of the epithelial duct. To delineate factors that may influence AEG expression in the developing epididymis, we measured concentrations of androgen and androgen receptor mRNA in tissue extracts prepared from animals of various ages. Androgen receptor mRNA was detectable in epididymal extracts isolated from 1- to 90-day-old animals. Epididymal androgen concentrations were high at all ages (range, 6.0-31.2 ng/g tissue). The marked increase in AEG mRNA concentration at 20 days of age was not associated with an increase in either androgen or androgen receptor mRNA concentrations, suggesting that other factors may be necessary for AEG expression.