Testosterone Enhances Expression and Functional Activity of Epithelial Sodium Channel, Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator, and Sodium Hydrogen Exchanger in Vas Deferens of Sex-Steroid Deficient Male Rats
July 2018
in “
Steroids
”
TLDR Testosterone changes how certain channels work in male rat reproductive tracts, affecting fertility-related fluid balance.
The study investigated the effects of testosterone on the expression and functional activity of epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR), and sodium hydrogen exchanger (NHE) in the vas deferens of sex-steroid deficient male rats. Testosterone treatment increased the secretion rate and concentrations of Cl− and Na+ while decreasing pH and HCO3− concentrations in the vas deferens fluid. These effects were counteracted by amiloride, Cftr inh-172, flutamide, and finasteride. The study concluded that testosterone enhances the expression of γ-ENaC, CFTR, and NHE isoforms in the vas deferens epithelium, indicating their crucial role in maintaining the fluid microenvironment necessary for male fertility.