Document Detail


Organic cation/carnitine transporter, OCTN2, transcriptional activity is regulated by osmotic stress in epididymal cells.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19899138     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Protection of cells from osmotic stress is crucial for their survival. Exposure to high osmolarity promotes rapid diffusion of water across cell membranes, dramatically increasing cellular ionic strength, leading to disruption of key proteins/DNA resulting in cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. The luminal microenvironment of the epididymis is hypertonic; therefore, epididymal cells adapt to the higher osmolarity by accumulating organic osmolytes, such as L-carnitine. Osmolytes do not perturb cells when accumulated in high concentrations, nor do they affect key proteins or damage DNA. Therefore, osmolytes and their transporters are crucial for cell survival. Transporters that are responsible for the accumulation of organic osmolytes have been shown to be regulated at the transcriptional level by hypertonicity. The present study examines the gene expression of known osmoprotective/stress genes in epididymal cells exposed to changes in tonicity. We demonstrate that the osmoprotective/stress pathways present in other organs, such as the kidney, operate in the epididymis, potentially aiding in the protection of its luminal cells and spermatozoa. Further, it was also seen that OCTN2, a transporter that is thought to be responsible for the accumulation of L-carnitine in the epididymal lumen, is regulated in response to changes in tonicity.
Authors:
Leanne M Cotton; Carmen M Rodriguez; Kichiya Suzuki; Marie-Claire Orgebin-Crist; Barry T Hinton
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Molecular reproduction and development     Volume:  77     ISSN:  1098-2795     ISO Abbreviation:  Mol. Reprod. Dev.     Publication Date:  2010 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-12-22     Completed Date:  2010-03-02     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8903333     Medline TA:  Mol Reprod Dev     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  114-25     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
(c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Affiliation:
Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Apoptosis
Carnitine / genetics,  metabolism*
Cell Cycle
Cell Line
Epididymis / cytology,  metabolism
Gene Expression Regulation*
Ion Transport
Male
Mice
Organic Cation Transport Proteins / biosynthesis*,  genetics
Osmotic Pressure
Transcription, Genetic*
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
HD 42089/HD/NICHD NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Organic Cation Transport Proteins; 0/Slc22a5 protein, mouse; 541-15-1/Carnitine

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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