Search

Study of the effects of arginine vasopressin (AVP) on efferent duct and cauda epididymis of rats reveals that AVP stimulates Cl- secretion involving AVP-induced indigenous prostaglandin synthesis to varying degrees. The AVP-induced Cl- secretion is mediated by a second messenger, cAMP, produced through an intracellular calcium-dependent mechanism and provides the impulse for salt and water transport in the efferent duct that influences sperm maturation.

Cl- conductance, caused by swelling in cultured rat epididymal C cells which display characteristics varying from those of conductance pathways induced by Ca2+ or cAMP, was determined using patch-clamp methods. Cl-conductance varied because current stimulation caused by swelling was observed even in the presence of kinase restrictor and the absence of external free Ca2+. Enhancement in current stimulation may be generated by swelling following current stimulation caused by Ca2+-or adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate. The monitoring of epithelial cell volume involves Cl- conductance caused by swelling.

The Cl- conductance of rat epididymal cells was studied by observing its response to adenosine 3'-5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and ionomycin. Whole-cell patch-clamp analysis revealed varied Cl- conductance properties in response to the substances. cAMP-stimulated Cl- conductance displaayed a direct current-voltage relationship and was independent of time and voltage. The converse was observed for ionomycin-stimulated Cl- conductance which also showed a different anion permselectivity. The findings revealed that epididymal cells are related to cystic fibrosis affected epithelium.