Immunolocalization of Androgen Receptor in the Epididymis of Rats with Dihydrotestosterone Deficiency

The study investigated the effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) deficiency, induced by finasteride treatment, on androgen receptor (AR) localization in the epididymis of rats over 56 days. Despite the DHT deficiency, there were no morphological changes in the epididymal epithelium. In control rats, AR was found in the nuclei of epithelial and smooth muscle cells and mainly in the cytoplasm of interstitial cells. In finasteride-treated rats, AR was primarily located in the cytoplasm of epithelial and interstitial cells, with some nuclear staining in specific cell types. The study concluded that finasteride altered AR expression in the epididymis, reflecting changes in hormonal status, without affecting the tissue morphology.