Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Larissa Berloffa Belardin, Keliane Brochu, Christine Legare, Maria Agustina Battistone, Sylvie Breton
Summary: Purinergic receptors are widely expressed throughout the body and play a role in regulating cell function. They activate specific receptors and trigger different signaling pathways to regulate various cellular responses. Purinergic signaling is important for the physiological and pathophysiological processes in the male reproductive system, but our understanding of this is limited.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Andrology
Nilendu Paul, Thirumala Rao Talluri, Pradeep Nag, Arumugam Kumaresan
Summary: Epididymosomes play a crucial role in the maturation and fertilizing ability of sperm by transferring proteins, RNA, and lipids from the epididymis to sperm cells. Research on epididymosomes has gained increasing attention in recent years and has the potential to be utilized as a tool for male fertility assessment.
Article
Immunology
Cottrell T. Tamessar, Natalie A. Trigg, Brett Nixon, David A. Skerrett-Byrne, David J. Sharkey, Sarah A. Robertson, Elizabeth G. Bromfield, John E. Schjenken
Summary: Extracellular vesicles are secreted cell-derived membrane structures found in all organisms, playing important roles in cell-cell communication. Recent studies have shown that these vesicles and their cargo have influential roles in male reproduction, supporting sperm development and function, and influencing the physiology of female reproductive tract cells. They are critical regulators of fertility and fecundity.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Daiji Kiyozumi
Summary: This review article summarizes a novel extracellular regulatory mechanism that controls mammalian male reproductive ability. It highlights the importance of the luminal extracellular environment in the transport and maturation of sperm, as well as its role in cellular communication for regulating sperm maturation. The molecular mechanism of lumicrine signaling in the male reproductive tract lumen and its significance in sperm maturation and male reproductive ability are discussed.
Article
Andrology
Nobuyuki Sakurai, Yoshitaka Fujihara, Kiyonori Kobayashi, Masahito Ikawa
Summary: This study reveals the important role of epididymis-enriched genes in sperm maturation and acquisition of fertilizing ability. Knockout of these genes leads to reduced fertility in male mice.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Rongyu Yao, Tingting Lu, Jiamei Liu, Wanhong Li, Xiuiu Weng, Xiangpeng Yue, Fadi Li
Summary: ADP-dependent glucokinase (ADPGK) plays a significant role in regulating energy metabolism and promoting testis development and spermatogenesis. The mutation in ADPGK gene was found to be associated with testis traits and spermatogenesis in Hu sheep, with TC genotype individuals showing increased gene expression and reproductive advantages. The SNP identified may serve as an effective DNA molecular marker for marker-assisted selection in Hu sheep breeding programs.
ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Erin L. McCullough, Emma Whittington, Akanksha Singh, Scott Pitnick, Mariana F. Wolfner, Steve Dorus
Summary: This study investigates the life history of Drosophila melanogaster sperm proteome and reveals substantial compositional changes after sperm are transferred to the female reproductive tract (FRT). Multiple seminal fluid proteins initially associate with sperm, but become undetectable after sperm storage. Female-derived proteins also associate with sperm immediately after mating, and contribute nearly 20% to the postmating sperm proteome after storage in the FRT. These female-derived proteins are enriched in processes associated with energy metabolism, suggesting their role in supporting sperm viability during the period between copulation and fertilization.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Guangxin Yao, Shengsong Xie, Xiaofeng Wan, Ling Zhang, Qiang Liu, Shuanggang Hu
Summary: The study identifies and characterizes rLcn13, a member of the rat epididymal lipocalin family. rLcn13 is found to be an epididymis-specific gene expressed predominantly in the initial segment and proximal caput epididymis, and influenced by androgen. The protein rLCN13 is modified by N-glycosylation, secreted into the epididymal lumen, and binds to the acrosome region of the sperm. The findings highlight the specific expression pattern and potential roles of rLcn13 in sperm maturation.
ACTA BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA SINICA
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Elena Moretti, Cinzia Signorini, Daria Noto, Sergio Antonio Tripodi, Andrea Menchiari, Ester Sorrentino, Giulia Collodel
Summary: This study explored the relationships among omentin-1/ITLN1, semen parameters, and oxidative stress markers in different patient groups. The levels of omentin-1/ITLN1 were found to be correlated with F-2-IsoP levels and negatively correlated with sperm parameters. Infertile patients showed lower levels of omentin-1/ITLN1, while those with varicocele and genitourinary infections had higher levels. Omentin-1/ITLN1 was localized differently in sperm and male reproductive system tissues.
JOURNAL OF INFLAMMATION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Aurelie Dewaele, Emilie Dujardin, Marjolaine Andre, Audrey Albina, Helene Jammes, Frank Giton, Eli Sellem, Genevieve Jolivet, Eric Pailhoux, Maelle Pannetier
Summary: This study investigates the role of estrogens in male reproductive system using a rabbit model. The findings suggest that testicular estrogens may be involved in sperm development and acquisition of motility.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ziqiang Ding, Lin Xiong, Xingdong Wang, Shaoke Guo, Mengli Cao, Yandong Kang, Yongfu La, Pengjia Bao, Jie Pei, Xian Guo
Summary: In this study, key genes regulating the development of the epididymal cauda and sperm maturation in yak were identified using RNA-seq and proteomics. These findings provide a theoretical basis for improving the reproductive potential of yak.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Katarzyna Dyrda, Aleksandra Orzolek, Joanna Ner-Kluza, Pawel Wysocki
Summary: Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of proteins play crucial roles in sperm maturation during epididymal transit. Differences in phosphorylation status were observed in certain proteins, potentially impacting sperm maturation and fertilization capability.
Article
Andrology
Yoo-Jin Park, Byeong-Mu Lee, Won-Ki Pang, Do-Yeal Ryu, Md Saidur Rahman, Myung-Geol Pang
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between sequential changes in protein expression during epididymal sperm maturation and sperm motility and fertility in bovine. The study found that irregular modifications of mitochondrial proteins during epididymal sperm maturation may lead to excessive ROS production and premature activation of spermatozoa, resulting in a decline in sperm motility and bull fertility.
WORLD JOURNAL OF MENS HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Wangsheng Zhao, Siraj Ahmed, Junxia Liu, Saeed Ahmed, Eugene Quansah, Tajmal Hussain Solangi, Yitao Wu, Yueling Yangliu, Hongmei Wang, Jiangjiang Zhu, Xin Cai
Summary: This study utilized iTRAQ proteomics to analyze differentially abundant proteins in yak and cattleyak epididymis, revealing 151 up-regulated and 137 down-regulated proteins in cattleyak compared to yak. Gene Ontology analysis showed that down-regulated proteins in cattleyak were primarily enriched in protein component acetylation, as well as negative and positive regulatory activities.
BMC VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Developmental Biology
Ruizhi Xue, Wenfeng Lin, Jingkai Sun, Masami Watanabe, Abai Xu, Motoo Araki, Yasutomo Nasu, Zhengyan Tang, Peng Huang
Summary: Accumulating evidence indicates that Wnt signaling is closely related to male reproductive physiology, with dysfunction potentially leading to pathological changes in genital organs and sperm cells. Despite numerous abnormalities being found in knockout models, research has mostly focused on individual factors within the Wnt pathway, with few reports on the overall relationship between Wnt signals and male reproductive physiology. This review aims to provide an overview of Wnt signaling in male reproductive physiology and pathology, sorting out relevant functions and addressing controversies among different studies.
MOLECULAR HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2021)