Mouse CD52 is Predominantly Expressed in the Cauda Epididymis, Regulated by Androgen and Lumicrine Factors

Sperm maturation takes place through contact between sperm and proteins produced in the epididymal lumen. CD52 had been characterised in the sperm; however, the expression and its regulation in the epididymis are mostly unknown.

This study aimed to analyse the expression and regulation of CD52 in the mouse epididymis.

Experimental design was used in this study.

Epididymis tissues from mice strain Deutch Democratic Yokohama were used as sources of total RNA. Bioinformatic tool was used to predict signal peptides. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to analyse tissue distribution, androgen, testicular factors dependency and postnatal development.

One-way analysis of variance was used to analyse differences between treatment and control untreated group. P < 0.05 was determined as a significant difference.

CD52 amino acid sequence contains a signal peptide, indicating it is a secretory protein. CD52 exhibited region-specific expression in the epididymis, with the highest level being in the cauda. CD52 expression was regulated by androgen indicated by a significant downregulation at day 1 and day 3 following a castration (P < 0.05). Dependency on androgen was confirmed by injection of exogenous testosterone which prevented downregulation by 50%. Moreover, lumicrine factors also influenced CD52 expression indicated by ligation of efferent duct which also reduced expression at day 1 to day 5 following the ligation (P < 0.05). CD52 expression was developmentally regulated. This was shown by increase in the level of expression starting at day 15 postnatally.

CD52 shows characteristics of genes involved in sperm maturation in the epididymis.