High-throughput Transcriptomic Analysis of Testosterone-Manipulated epididymis

Androgenic modulation of the structural integrity and functional maintenance of the epididymis have been demonstrated. Androgen receptor is a typical receptor to modulate classical testosterone signaling pathway, while accumulated studies suggested number of membranous receptors or intermediated molecules also involved in testosterone pathway. In RNAseq analysis of castration mouse model, profile of testosterone responsive genes was identified. Comibining with our in-vitro studies, an novel testosterone action which incoperated with glutamine and glutamate transportation has been proposed in epididymal epithlium cells. Overall design: To establish a loss- and restore-of-function animal model, 13 adult mice were randomly allocated into control (n=3) and castration (n=10) group. Castration was performed by bilateral removal of testes. Control animals underwent the same surgical procedures except for removing their testes (sham). Fourteen days post-surgery, five castrated mice were subcutaneously given testosterone propionate (5 mg/kg body weight, dissolved in corn oil) for 10 consecutive days (Cas+T); the other five castrated animals received corn oil served as vehicle controls (Cas+CO).