Role of glucocorticoids in the modulation of the inflammatory response in the epidydimis of rats submitted to an infectious challange

• Grant number: 11/05622-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2011
• End date: June 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Biochemical and Molecular Pharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Maria Christina Werneck de Avellar
• Grantee: Tiago Pinto
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The epididymis, an androgen dependent organ responsible for sperm transport, maturation, storage and protection, is constantly exposed to inflammatory conditions due to pathogens or idiopathic characteristics. The consequence of this condition is epididymitis, that can lead to dysfunction of epididimal duct and, therefore, impairment of male fertility. In the past years our group studied the cellular and biochemical mechanisms of epididymis in response to infection by gram-negative bacteria, through Toll 4 (TLR4), a common infectious agent in clinical conditions of epididymitis. Taking together the important role of glucocorticoids in the modulation of inflammatory response, we also studied the expression and function of glucocorticoid receptors throughout the epididymis, and the results suggested that this steroid hormone is an important modulator of epididimal function. Herein we attempt to move forward in our understanding about the role of glucocorticoids in the rat epididymis under inflammatory and non-inflammatory condition and a better characterization of the importance of tissue balance of glucocorticoids and androgens throughout the epididymis in these experimental conditions. Together, our results may contribute with new perspectives and understandings about the biology of epididymis as well as, the effects and consequences of glucocorticoids administration as an anti-inflammatory and immunosupressor for the epididimal function and male fertility. (AU)