The goal of this study was to evaluate P450 aromatase localization in the epididymis of two different vertebrates: the lizard Podarcis sicula, a seasonal breeder, and Rattus rattus, a continuous breeder. P450 aromatase is a key enzyme involved in the local control of spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis and we proved for the first time that this enzyme is represented in the epididymis of both P. sicula and R. rattus. In details, P450 aromatase was well represented in epithelial and myoid cells and in the connective tissue of P. sicula epididymis during the reproductive period; instead, during autumnal resumption this enzyme was absent in the connective tissue. During the non-reproductive period, P450 aromatase was localized only in myoid cells of P. sicula epididymis, whereas in R. rattus it was localized both in myoid cells and connective tissue. Our findings, the first on the epididymis aromatase localization in the vertebrates, suggest a possible role of P450 aromatase in the control of male genital tract function, particularly in sperm maturation.

中文翻译：

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斑鼠和家鼠附睾中芳香酶 P450 的免疫定位。

本研究的目的是评估 P450 芳香酶在两种不同脊椎动物附睾中的定位：蜥蜴 Podarcis sicula（季节性繁殖者）和 Rattusrattus（连续繁殖者）。P450芳香酶是参与精子发生和类固醇生成局部控制的关键酶，我们首次证明该酶在鲫鱼和鼠的附睾中都有表达。具体来说，P450芳香酶在繁殖期的附睾上皮细胞和肌样细胞以及结缔组织中都有很好的表现。相反，在秋季恢复期间，结缔组织中不存在这种酶。在非繁殖期，P450芳香酶仅定位于P.sicula附睾的肌样细胞中，而在R.rattus中，它同时定位于肌样细胞和结缔组织中。我们的研究结果是第一个关于脊椎动物附睾芳香酶定位的研究结果，表明 P450 芳香酶在控制男性生殖道功能中可能发挥作用，特别是在精子成熟中。