The effect of technology-enhanced learning (TEL) strategies in higher education has arguably been transformative despite the not-insignificant barriers existing this context. Throughout discourse very little attention paid to those primarily responsible for implementation—academic teaching staff. This paper aims highlight impact academic workload allocations, an often silent barrier uptake TEL education. We will discuss effects identity and culture, preferential time allocation associative...

The blood-epididymal barrier creates a unique microenvironment critical for sperm maturation. There is little information on proteins comprising epididymal tight and adhering junctions or factors regulating their expression. Claudins are family of transmembrane reported to be exclusively localized junctions. In the present study expression claudin-l (Cl-1) was examined with respect different cell types epididymis its various regions as well during postnatal development regulation by...

Theubiquitin-proteasome system plays an important role in spermatogenesis. However, the functions of deubiquitinating enzymes this process remain poorly characterized. We previously showed that enzyme USP2 is induced late elongating spermatids. To identify its function, we generated mice lacking USP2. Usp2 −/− appeared normal, and weights major organs, including testis, did not differ from wild type (Usp2 +/+). although numbers testicular spermatids epididymal spermatozoa were normal males,...

Abstract Spermatozoa are formed in the testis but must transit through epididymis to acquire motility and ability fertilize. The is a single convoluted tubule comprising several anatomically physiologically distinct regions. pseudostratified epithelium consists of multiple cell types, including principal cells, clear narrow apical that line lumen epididymis. Basal cells present at base epithelium, halo which includes macrophages/monocytes, mononuclear phagocytes, T lymphocytes, also...

Abstract Fas ligand (FasL) triggers apoptosis of Fas-positive cells, and previous reports described FasL-induced cell death photoreceptors following a retinal detachment. However, as FasL exists in membrane-bound (mFasL) soluble (sFasL) forms, is expressed on resident microglia infiltrating monocyte/macrophages, the current study examined relative contribution mFasL sFasL to photoreceptor after induction experimental detachment wild-type, knockout ( −/−), mFasL-only knock-in (ΔCS) mice....

In the epididymis, Cx43 forms gap junctions between principal and basal cells but not adjacent cells. Cx30.3, 31.1, 32 were identified in adult rat epididymis by RT-PCR, whereas Cx26 was present young rats. Postnatal development studies indicate that mRNA detectable only caput-corpus region of levels increased fivefold during first 4 wk postnatally, when epithelial differentiate, decrease to nondetectable thereafter. Cx31.1 Cx32 low throughout rats began increase second third weeks are...

Abstract Estrogens play an important role in the male reproductive tract, and this is especially so for efferent ductules, where α‐estrogen receptors (ERα) have been localized. Mice deficient ERα (αERKO mice) are infertile, effect appears to be due part retention of water at level ductules. In present study, we examined consequences deletion on distribution certain aquaporins (AQPs), protein channels, ductules sperm numbers motility. addition, effects feeding mice a regular lab chow diet,...

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) interacts with its cognate receptor (R) on Sertoli cells within the testis and plays an important role in maintenance of spermatogenesis. Male FSH-R knockout (FORKO) mice show fewer many that are structurally abnormal as a consequence germ cells. Lower levels serum testosterone (T) androgen binding protein (ABP) also occur, along reduced fertility. To assess effects depletion outcome testicular abnormalities, sperm from cauda epididymidis were counted...

Osteopontin (OPN), a multifunctional phosphoprotein found in both hard and soft tissues, was examined the male reproductive tract. The expression regulation of OPN rat testis, efferent ducts, epididymis during postnatal development through to adulthood using immunocytochemistry at light- electron-microscopic level. Immunoblot analysis revealed major 30-kDa band for epididymal tissue 60-kDa testis. In immunostaining noted early germ cells from spermatogonia pachytene spermatocytes, suggesting...

Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL, Lipe, E.C.3.1.1.3) functions as a triglyceride and cholesteryl esterase, supplying fatty acids, cholesterol to cells. Gene-targeted HSL-deficient (HSL(-/-)) mice reveal abnormal spermatids are infertile at 24 weeks after birth. The purpose of this study was follow the evolution spermatid abnormalities HSL(-/-) age, characterize sperm motility in older mice, determine if expressing human testicular HSL transgene (HSL(-/-)ttg) produce normal motile sperm. In situ...

Oculodentodigital dysplasia (ODDD) is a dysmorphogenesis syndrome resulting from mutations in the GJA1 gene encoding gap junction protein, connexin43 (CX43). In testis this connexin localizes between Leydig cells, Sertoli cells and germ cells. It essential for cell differentiation spermatogenesis. This study explored male fertility Gja1(Jrt) /+ mice which carry dominant mutation that causes an amino acid substitution (G60S) CX43. mimic phenotype of ODDD. Immunodetection methods revealed...

Tight and adhering junctions are important in maintaining the integrity of epididymal epithelium formation blood barrier, which crucial for sperm maturation storage. The composition catenin-adhering junctional family proteins their relationship with tight remain to be established epididymis. In normal adult rat epididymis, immunostaining three anticatenin antibodies (α, β-, p120ctn) was noted along lateral plasma membranes (LPM) between adjacent epithelial cells. Although α-catenin β-catenin...

Abstract The luminal environment of the epididymis is highly specialized with specific proteins, ions, pH, etc. required for sperm maturation. Tight junctions between epididymal principal cells are responsible formation blood–epididymal barrier, which regulates this environment. Claudins (Cldns) a recently discovered family transmembrane proteins and essential components tight junctions. Previous work from our laboratory has demonstrated presence localization Cldn‐1 in all regions rat...

Past studies have shown that the epithelial lining of epididymis in adult mice deficient protective protein cathepsin A (PPCA -/-) becomes swollen and vacuolated as a result an accumulation pale lysosomes, some very large, addition to presence abundance macrophages infiltrating intertubular spaces. The purpose this study was assess integrity epididymal epithelial-blood barrier these altered by characterizing distribution claudins (Cldns) leakiness tight junctions lanthanum nitrate. second...

Huntingtin interacting protein 1 (HIP1) is an endocytic adaptor with clathrin assembly activity that binds to cytoplasmic proteins, such as F-actin, tubulin, and huntingtin (htt). To gain insight into diverse functions of HIP1, we characterized the male reproductive defect HIP1(-/-) mice from 7 30 weeks age. High levels HIP1 were expressed in testis wild-type seen by Western blots a reaction over Sertoli cells elongating spermatids visualized immunocytochemistry. Accordingly, major...

ABSTRACT: Principal cells of the epididymis are most prominent cell type and noted for an apical surface studded with microvilli. The latter contain channel proteins that condition microenvironment epididymal lumen promote sperm maturation; however, regulation structure integrity microvilli is not well known. Espins a family implicated in microvillar growth. objectives this study were to assess espin principal both vitro vivo. Treatment immortalized rat caput (RCE) increasing doses...