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Retinoids and Epididymal Function

  • Chapter
The Epididymis: From Molecules to Clinical Practice

Abstract

Retinoids are highly potent molecules with pleiotropic action in a wide range of biological processes including vision, reproduction, maintenance of epithelial tissues, bone development, and pattern formation during embryogenesis (for review, Sporn et al., 1994). Inappropriate temporal or spatial concentration of retinoic acid causes serious defects in the numerous organs that require retinoids (Maden, 2000). Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in the adult is characterized by keratinizing and non-keratinizing squamous metaplasia of numerous epithelia (Wolback and Howe, 1925; Mason, 1939). Retinol administration prevents or reverses the effect of the VAD syndrome. Retinoic acid, in the absence of retinol, also prevents or reverses the VAD syndrome with the exception of the spermatogenic epithelium and retina (Thompson et al., 1964; Dowling and Wald, 1960). Pregnancies are also not carried to term if retinoic acid is the only retinoid provided (Howell etal., 1964).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Reproductive Biology Research, Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    Marie-Claire Orgebin-Crist, Kichiya Suzuki, Yoshihiko Araki, Sophie Fouchécourt, Robert J. Matusik & David E. Ong

  2. Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    Marie-Claire Orgebin-Crist, Kichiya Suzuki, Yoshihiko Araki & Sophie Fouchécourt

  3. Departments of Cell Biology, Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    Marie-Claire Orgebin-Crist & Robert J. Matusik

  4. Departments of Urologic Surgery, Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    Robert J. Matusik

  5. Departments of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    David E. Ong

  6. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Rennes, France, 35042

    Jean-Jacques Lareyre

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  1. Marie-Claire Orgebin-Crist
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Bernard Robaire

  2. University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA

    Barry T. Hinton

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Orgebin-Crist, MC. et al. (2002). Retinoids and Epididymal Function. In: Robaire, B., Hinton, B.T. (eds) The Epididymis: From Molecules to Clinical Practice. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0679-9_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0679-9_19

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