Figure 5

Region-specific and developmental expression profile of novel genes by RT-PCR. (A) Region-dependent expression of the novel genes in the epididymis. The schematic organization of the mouse epididymis is shown at the top, highlighting the initial segment, caput, corpus, and cauda regions. RT-PCR analysis was performed with cDNAs prepared from four different regions of epididymis. The house-keeping gene G3PDH was used as a control to normalize the template input. The genes were divided into 5 different groups, based on regional expression pattern and each group is indicated by a vertical bar. IS, initial segment; Cp, caput; Cr; corpus; Cd, cauda. (B) Postnatal developmental expression of the novel genes. Schematic diagram of the postnatal development of the epididymis is shown, highlighting the epithelial cell differentiation stage. RT-PCR was performed with cDNAs prepared from epididymides of mice of different ages. Genes were divided into three groups based on the stage of development at which they were expressed: before epithelial cell differentiation (Group I), at epithelial cell differentiation (Group II), and at puberty (Group III). Estimation of intensity of bands amplified using primers specific to the G3PDH gene indicates the equivalent amounts of cDNA template at each stage. The numbers above the lanes indicate days after birth.