Article
Genetics & Heredity
Junjie Hu, Wenbo Ge, Longfei Xiao, Jianlin Zeng, Jianshu Lv, Ziqiang Ding, Wenjuan Wang, Hongwei Duan, Fadi Li
Summary: The study investigated the regulatory mechanism of progesterone on the secretion of dihydrotestosterone in sheep epididymis, revealing different synthesis abilities of P4 in different parts of the epididymis and higher PGR expression levels in the cauda. In vitro cell culture experiments showed that inhibition of DHT secretion and 5 alpha-reductase 1 and 2 expression by P4 could be partially mitigated by RU486.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hu Zhao, Yuejin Yu, Chunlei Mei, Tianyu Zhang, Yafei Kang, Na Li, Donghui Huang
Summary: This study found that CNP is highly expressed in male reproductive tissues, especially in the epididymis. The results show that CNP promotes the maturation of epididymal sperm through the NPR-B/cGMP signaling pathway, and is regulated by testosterone.
CURRENT ISSUES IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
F. Barrachina, M. A. Battistone, J. Castillo, C. Mallofre, M. Jodar, S. Breton, R. Oliva
Summary: The study demonstrates that sperm acquire proteins from epididymosomes during post-testicular maturation, providing insights into the mechanisms of sperm maturation and potential therapeutic strategies for male infertility. The results highlight the novel role of epididymal clear cells in producing epididymosomes, contributing to a better understanding of male reproductive health.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Ruchi Vyas, Kavindra Kumar Kesari, Norbert Lukac, Petr Slama, Shubhadeep Roychoudhury, Rashmi Sisodia
Summary: This study evaluated the effect of ethanolic extract of Chlorophytum borivilianum L. (CRE) on sperm maturation against adversities posed by ionizing gamma irradiation. The results showed that CRE exhibited remarkable antioxidant potential and could protect sperm from oxidative stress.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
J. Knowles, S. Boryshpolets, V Kholodnyy, D. Rahi, J. Vyslouzil, J. Muselik, V Stejskal, J. Kouril, P. Podhorec
Summary: The study investigates the effects of the incorporation of mammalian gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (mGnRHa) into poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles on sperm production, characteristics, and hormone secretion in northern pike. The results demonstrate that PLGA microparticles can be used as a carrier for hormone treatments to regulate sperm production in mature northern pike.
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
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
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Huanhuan Wang, Paul Esemu-Ezewu, Jingyi Pan, Julijana Ivanovska, Estelle B. Gauda, Jaques Belik
Summary: The study found that adiponectin in breastmilk reduces the contraction potential of the fundic smooth muscle in neonates, facilitating gastric volume accommodation and maximizing breastmilk intake volume after birth.
WORLD JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Mariana Machado-Neves
Summary: Male fertility has declined in recent decades, and environmental risk factors such as heavy metals may be a possible cause. This study conducted a meta-analysis of 138 studies and found that exposure to inorganic arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury reduces epididymal weight, sperm motility, and sperm number. The study also revealed that these metals damage sperm structures within the epididymal duct and disrupt the balance of important minerals. These findings highlight the potential hazards of heavy metal exposure on male reproductive health.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Noburu Sensui, Yosinori Itoh, Nobuhiko Okura, Kogiku Shiba, Shoji A. Baba, Kazuo Inaba, Manabu Yoshida
Summary: In Phlebobranchiata ascidians, the acidic conditions in the gonoductal fluids keep the gametes infertile, especially the eggs, and the release of eggs into seawater upon spawning induces an increase in ambient pH, which enables egg fertilization. Pre-incubation of gonoductal eggs at pH 8.2 prior to insemination increases fertilization rates, even under low pH conditions. An increase in ambient pH triggers the release of sperm attractants from the egg and is necessary for sperm chemotaxis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Takafumi Matsumura, Takuya Sato, Takeru Abe, Hiroyuki Sanjo, Kumiko Katagiri, Hiroshi Kimura, Teruo Fujii, Hiromitsu Tanaka, Masumi Hirabayashi, Takehiko Ogawa
Summary: By modifying culture conditions and supplementing chemical substances, successful IVS of rats was achieved, maintaining rat spermatogenesis up to round spermatids over 70 days in culture. This progress is a significant step towards successful IVS in various animal species, including humans.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Mustafa Hac Isa, Tulin Arslan
Summary: This study conducted two consecutive experiments to improve all-female production efficiency in rainbow trout farming. Results showed that supplementing the Cortland medium with uric acid significantly increased the motility rate and fertilizing capacity of testicular sperm.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zongzhuang Wen, Haixia Zhu, Bin Wu, Aizhen Zhang, Hongxiang Wang, Yin Cheng, Hui Zhao, Jianyuan Li, Min Liu, Jiangang Gao
Summary: This study revealed the important role of CTSB in spermatogenesis and sperm maturation in mice. By generating Ctsb-/- mice using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, the researchers found that these mice had decreased sperm count, increased levels of morphologically abnormal sperm, decreased levels of progressively motile sperm, and increased levels of immotile sperm. Histological analysis showed vacuolization in the testis epithelium and loss of epididymal epithelium cells in Ctsb-/- mice. Furthermore, autophagic activity was inhibited and apoptotic activity was increased in both the testis and epididymis of Ctsb-/- mice.
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
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.