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Fig. 1 | Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology

Fig. 1

From: Expression of NELL2/NICOL-ROS1 lumicrine signaling-related molecules in the human male reproductive tract

Fig. 1

A schematic representation of testis-epididymis trans-luminal signaling in rodents. (A) A schematic representation of rodent male reproductive tract. (B) A schematic representation of testis-epididymis trans-luminal signaling lumicrine. In the testicular seminiferous tubule, lumicrine factors such as NELL2 and NICOL are secreted from germ cells located inside the blood-testis barrier. The secreted ligand proteins go trans-luminally through the efferent duct to the epididymis. In the epididymis, the testis-derived ligands bind to the receptor ROS1 on the apical surface of the epididymal luminal epithelium. Upon ROS1 activation, genes necessary for epididymal differentiation and sperm maturation are induced

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Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology

ISSN: 1477-7827

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