CD52 mRNA is modulated by androgens and temperature in epididymal cell cultures

Cultured rat epididymal tissue explants formed >90% pure, adherent growing epithelial cell monolayers. Despite their flattened and apparently androgen receptor-negative phenotype, these cells for a short period kept character istics of the epididymal duct epithelium, i.e., expression of the tissue-sp ecific marker CD52 and responsiveness of its mRNA toward temperature elevat ion and androgen withdrawal. When cells were grown on permeable supports at 33 degrees C, androgen supplementation or withdrawal specifically modulate d the levels as well as the length of the CD52 mRNA. Elevation of the cultu re temperature to a quasi abdominal milieu of 37 degrees C selectively redu ced the CD52 mRNA levels under all culture conditions. This reduction was n ot affected by the presence of androgens and was not accompanied by changes in length, suggesting that the modulation of CD52 mRNA in epididymal cells by androgens and by temperature is synergic, but may involve different mol ecular mechanisms. CD52 mRNA levels, however, were not stable in the primar y cultures but decreased rapidly to undetectable levels after 4-5 days at a ll culture conditions. GAPDH mRNA levels, on the other hand, were stable th roughout the culture period. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.