Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38988181›Full record

ArticleAndrology2025

Biomechanical properties of the capsule and extracellular matrix play a major role during the Wolffian/epididymal duct development.

Erika C S Oliveira, Ping Hu, David R Shook, Horst Wallrabe, Natalie N Townsend, Grace C Bingham, Thomas H Barker, Barry T Hinton

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In one paragraph

Article in Andrology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Erika C S OliveiraDepartment of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
Ping HuDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
David R ShookDepartment of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
Horst WallrabeW.M. Keck Center for Cellular Imaging, Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
Natalie N TownsendDepartment of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
Grace C BinghamDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
Thomas H BarkerDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
Barry T HintonDepartment of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-7385-7895

Funding

Cell-Cell and Cell-Matrix Interactions in MorphogenesisR35GM131865 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · PI DESIMONE, DOUGLAS W. · 2019 to 2023
$2.2M
Role of the extracellular matrix during Wolffian/epididymal duct morphogenesisR01HD093703 · NICHD · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · PI HINTON, BARRY T. · 2018 to 2022
$1.7M
Zeiss 780 NLO High Sensitivity Multiphoton Microscopy SystemS10OD016446 · OD · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · PI PERIASAMY, AMMASI · 2013 to 2013
$600k
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institutes of Child Health and Human HD093703Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institutes of Child Health and Human NIH-OD016446Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institutes of Child Health and Human NIH R35 GM131865NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD093703NIGMS NIH HHS R35 GM131865NIH HHS S10 OD016446
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe epididymis is important for sperm maturation and without its proper development, male infertility will result. Biomechanical properties of tissues/organs play key roles during their morphogenesis, including the Wolffian duct. It is hypothesized that structural/bulk stiffness of the capsule and mesenchyme/extracellular matrix that surround the duct is a major biomechanical property that regulates Wolffian duct morphogenesis. These data will provide key information as to the mechanisms that regulate the development of this important organ.

objectivesTo measure the structural/bulk stiffness in Pascals (force/area) of the capsule and the capsule and mesenchyme together that surrounds the Wolffian duct during the development. To examine the relative membrane tension of mesenchymal cells during the Wolffian duct development. Since Ptk7 was previously shown to regulate ECM integrity and Wolffian duct elongation and coiling, the hypothesis that Ptk7 regulates structural/bulk stiffness and mesenchymal cell membrane tension was tested. MATERIALS AND

methodsAtomic force microscopy and a microsquisher compression apparatus were used to measure the structural stiffness. Biomechanical properties within the membranes of cells within the capsule and mesenchyme were examined using a membrane-tension fluorescent probe. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The structural stiffness (Pascals) of the capsule and underlying mesenchyme was relatively constant during development, with a significant increase in the capsule at the later stages. However, this increase may reflect the ECM and associated mesenchyme being close to the capsule because the coiling of the duct pushed or compressed them into that space. Keeping the capsule and mesenchyme/ECM at constant stiffness would ensure that the duct will continue to coil under similar biomechanical forces throughout the development. Cells within the capsule and mesenchyme at different Wolffian duct regions during the development had varying degrees of membrane lipid tension. It is hypothesized that the dynamic changes ensure the duct is kept at a constant stiffness regardless of any external forces. Loss of Ptk7 resulted in an increase in stiffness at E18.5, which was presumable due to the loss of integrity of the ECM within the mesenchyme.

conclusionBiomechanical properties of the capsule and the mesenchyme/extracellular matrix that surround the Wolffian duct play an important role toward Wolffian duct morphogenesis, thereby allowing for the proper development of the epididymis and subsequent male fertility.

Indexed as

EpididymisExtracellular MatrixWolffian DuctsAnimalsBiomechanical PhenomenaMaleMesodermMicroscopy, Atomic Forcebiomechanical propertiesepididymismorphogenesisstructural stiffnessWolffian duct

Identifiers

PMID38988181
PMCPMC11717982

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.