Protein transport to the epididymal lumen

Experiments were performed to clarify the debate over the entry of circulating proteins into the epididymal lumen by use of the marker horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Epididymal tubules from the caput epididymidis of the rat were immersed in medium TC 199 containing HRP (3.5 mg/ml) for 5 min to 3 h at 33 degrees C. Sections were examined for the presence of tracer within the epithelial cells by electron microscopy. From 5 min to 3 h, vesicles containing peroxidase reaction products were found throughout the cytoplasm of the principal cells. Vesicles occurred close to both the basal and apical membranes, and many were found opening into the interstitial space and lumen, depending on the length of incubation. By 5 min labelled vesicles were infrequently found in the apical part of the cells. Reaction product was observed in the epididymal lumen adhering to the microvilli from 30 min of incubation onwards. At all periods of incubation peroxidase was present at the base of the epithelium and between the cells, but it was never found within the tight junctional complexes, and no reaction deposits were found within epithelial cells of tubules incubated in the absence of peroxidase. It is concluded that large molecules leaving the capillaries may enter the epididymal lumen in the caput by means of fluid-phase endocytosis.