Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Gabriela Baldeon-Vaca, Jai G. Marathe, Joseph A. Politch, Emilie Mausser, Jeffrey Pudney, James Doud, Ellena Nador, Larry Zeitlin, Michael Pauly, Thomas R. Moench, Miles Brennan, Kevin J. Whaley, Deborah J. Anderson
Summary: The HCA mAb produced using the Nicotiana platform has potent sperm agglutination and immobilization activity at high concentrations, with a good safety profile, making it a promising candidate for female contraception.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Qiwei Chen, Songsong Tang, Yangyang Li, Zhaoqing Cong, Dongdong Lu, Qingxin Yang, Xueji Zhang, Song Wu
Summary: The study introduces a biohybrid sperm microrobot capable of active drug delivery and cytoprotection by encapsulating sperm cells within metal-organic frameworks and zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 nanoparticles. The microrobot's protection from AsA and sustained release of zinc ions contribute to the maintenance of sperm propulsion and movement, which can enhance therapeutic efficacy in risky environments. This multifunctional wrapping approach opens up new possibilities for designing adaptive cell robots for diverse operations in practical and clinical settings.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Andrology
Jin-Chun Lu, Yan-Mei Ge, Yuan-Hua Xu, Shan-Shan Tang, Yuan-Jiao Liang
Summary: This study successfully obtained sperm antigen mimotopes using the phage display technique and established an ELISA method for the detection of antisperm antibody (AsAb). The study found that the ELISA method using the mimotopes as antigens can effectively detect AsAb in clinical samples.
BASIC AND CLINICAL ANDROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Xia Lang, Michael Adjei, Cailian Wang, Xiaoying Chen, Chunhai Li, Peng Wang, Meilan Pan, Kerui Li, Khuram Shahzad, Wangsheng Zhao
Summary: The first filial generation of cattleyaks demonstrates hybrid vigor, but male cattleyaks are infertile, limiting productivity and breeding. Comparative transcriptome analysis of cattleyak epididymis segments identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enriched signaling pathways, providing valuable information for improving cattleyak fertility and understanding epididymal biology.
ANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Yu Wakimoto, Atsushi Fukui, Teruhito Kojima, Goh Wakimoto, Naoya Okamura, Hidetake Kamei, Yukiko Sugiyama, Toru Kato, Akiko Hasegawa, Hiroaki Shibahara
Summary: The study compared the results of using frozen-thawed sperm and fresh sperm for the SIT and found that both types of sperm reacted similarly when exposed to serum containing sperm-immobilizing antibodies. This suggests the possibility of using cryopreserved sperm for the diagnosis of immunological infertility when fresh sperm is not available.
REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Andrology
Suheyla Esra Ozkocer, Ece Konac
Summary: Male infertility affects around 30% of infertile couples, with sperm maturation in the epididymis playing a crucial role in fertility. The epididymal epithelium provides a suitable environment for sperm maturation through ion transport, vesicle secretion, and protein matrix formation. Altered gene expression in the epididymis can lead to decreased sperm motility, morphological abnormalities, and subfertility, highlighting the importance of genetic factors in male infertility.
Article
Reproductive Biology
F. Hassan, W. Holtz
Summary: Through a study involving radioactively labeled thymidine infusion in 48 sexually rested young adult boars, it was discovered that labeled sperm first appeared in the proximal caput after 28 days, then reached the distal caput after 2 days, with the majority found in the corpus after another 2 days. Progress was halted at the transition of corpus and cauda on Day 11, but resumed on Day 12 and by Day 13 sperm had exited the epididymis via the ductus deferens.
Article
Reproductive Biology
P. Taaffe, C. M. O'Meara, M. Stiavnicka, C. J. Byrne, B. Eivers, P. Lonergan, S. Fair
Summary: This study aimed to assess the effect of ejaculate collection frequency on semen output, sperm quality, and field fertility in young bulls. The results showed that collecting ejaculates more frequently significantly reduced the number of days required to obtain 1000 straws, increased semen quality in terms of lower superoxide production, and improved field fertility.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Vipul Batra, Vanya Bhushan, Syed Azmal Ali, Parul Sarwalia, Ankit Pal, Seema Karanwal, Subhash Solanki, Arumugam Kumaresan, Rakesh Kumar, Tirtha Kumar Datta
Summary: The study identified over 300 proteins on the ejaculated buffalo sperm surface, most of which were extracellular and involved in immune or reproductive processes. Flow cytometry with six FITC-labelled lectins confirmed glycosylation of these proteins, and various beta-defensins including BuBD-129 and 126 were identified on the sperm surface. The findings suggest that buffalo spermatozoa are heavily glycosylated and that BuBDs may play a role in sperm function and male fertility regulation.
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Natasha T. Logsdon, Carla M. Gallo, Francisco J. B. Sampaio, Luciano A. Favorito
Summary: The study found that epididymal anomalies associated with spermatic obstruction are present in approximately 20% of patients with undescended testes, and there is no significant correlation with age, testicular position, and patency of the processus vaginalis (PV).
INTERNATIONAL BRAZ J UROL
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ferran Barrachina, Kiera Ottino, Maia Lina Elizagaray, Maria Gracia Gervasi, Leona J. Tu, Styliani Markoulaki, Raul G. Spallanzani, Diane Capen, Dennis Brown, Maria Agustina Battistone
Summary: Regulatory T cells play a crucial role in maintaining the tolerogenic state of the testis and epididymis. Depletion of Tregs leads to autoimmune orchitis and epididymitis, affecting sperm production and leading to fertility defects. Understanding these immunoregulatory mechanisms could aid in the development of new treatments for male infertility and immunocontraception.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rita I. Pacheco, Maria I. Cristo, Sandra I. Anjo, Andreia F. Silva, Maria Ines Sousa, Renata S. Tavares, Ana Paula Sousa, Teresa Almeida Santos, Mariana Moura-Ramos, Francisco Caramelo, Bruno Manadas, Joao Ramalho-Santos, Sandra Gomes Amaral
Summary: The global trend of rising (male) infertility is concerning. This study aimed to understand unknown origin male infertility (UOMI) by evaluating the male gamete. The study found that idiopathic (ID) patients had the worst sperm functional profile, while unexplained male infertility (UMI) patients were similar to controls. Proteomic analysis identified several differentially expressed proteins in ID and UMI samples. SACA4 and LAMB2 were identified as potential biomarkers for distinguishing ID and UMI patients.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Kai Xing, Yu Chen, Liang Wang, Xueze Lv, Zheng Li, Xiaolong Qi, Xiangguo Wang, Longfei Xiao, Hemin Ni, Yong Guo, Xihui Sheng
Summary: In this study, the molecular mechanisms underlying sperm motility in the epididymis of roosters were investigated. The researchers identified candidate genes and miRNAs that affect sperm motility and shed light on the regulatory mechanisms of fertility. The findings provide valuable information for understanding and improving chicken production.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Cailian Wang, Tajmal Hussain Solangi, Hongmei Wang, Liuyueling Yang, Khuram Shahzad, Wangsheng Zhao, Xia Lang
Summary: The study revealed that the male infertility in CY involves multiple miRNAs, which may affect testis and epididymis function by regulating gene expression.
REPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Beatrix Stadler, Cameron J. Nowell, Michael R. Whittaker, Stefan Arnhold, Adrian Pilatz, Florian M. Wagenlehner, Betty Exintaris, Ralf Middendorff
Summary: The study found that oxytocin produces strong contractions in specific segments of the epididymis in both rats and humans during ejaculation, which may be closely related to the ejaculation process. Segment 19 in rats and segment 9 in humans respond to oxytocin and noradrenaline in a similar manner. Fluorescent imaging techniques allow the observation of epididymal responses to oxytocin.