The epididymis is a highly convoluted tubule that connects the testis with the vas deferens, and in which mammalian sperm acquire the ability to fertilize eggs. The most proximal portion of the epididymis, or initial segment, secretes numerous factors that are critical for sperm maturation and storage. One such factor is SED1 (also known as MFG-E8) a bi-motif protein composed of two N-terminal ...

BACKGROUND Spermatozoa become mature and acquire fertilizing capacity during their passage through the epididymal lumen. In this study, we identified new epididymal luminal fluid proteins involved in sperm maturation in infertile rats by dutasteride, a dual 5α-reductase inhibitor, in order to provide potential epididymal targets for new contraceptives and infertility treatment. METHODS Male r...

for evaluation of citric acid and citrate effects on bovine epididymal protoplasmic droplets, fifty bovine testes were collected in the october 2007 till june 2008 from urmia slaughterhouse and transported to the laboratory in a cool container filled with 5 °c ice pack. caudal epididymis was incised and sperm cells were put into petri dishes containing hams f10 media with 10% fetal calf serum (...

MODIFICATIONS IN RABBIT SPERM PLASMA MEMBRANES DURING EPIDIDYMAL PASSAGE AND AFTER EJACULATION WERE INVESTIGATED BY USED OF THREE LECTINS: concanavalin A (Con A); Ricinus communis I (RCA(I)); and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). During sperm passage from caput to cauda epididymis, agglutination by WGA drastically decreased, and agglutination by RCA(I) slightly decreased, although agglutination by C...

The present study aimed to compare the in vitro fertilizing capacity of frozen-thawed ejaculated and epididymal spermatozoa in order to standardize the semen preparation protocol for camel in vitro fertilization (IVF). Semen samples were collected from 7 Dromedary camels by means of artificial vagina (AV). Ten cauda epididymes were obtained from slaughtered adult camels, isolated, incised and r...

The cholesterol content of the sperm membrane is regulated during both maturation in the epididymis and capacitation in the female tract, two processes required for the spermatozoa to acquire their fertilising ability. Because Niemann-Pick disease, type C2 (NPC2) protein is one of the most abundant components of the epididymal fluid and contains a functional cholesterol-binding site that can tr...

ninety red sokoto bucks were used to assess the relationship between body, testicular and epididymal measurements in three age groups (group 1: 7-12 months; group 2: between 1 and 2 years and group 3: older than 2 years). the effect of age on body and testicular / epididymal measurements was analyzed. a predictive model was developed for each of the testicular / epididymal measurements using li...

BACKGROUND Epididymal anomalies and patent processus vaginalis are frequently found in boys with cryptorchidism or hydrocele. We conducted this study to evaluate the association between epididymal anomalies and testicular location or patent processus vaginalis in boys with undescended testis or hydrocele. METHODS Children undergoing surgery with undescended testis (group A, 136 boys and 162 t...

Although spermatozoa are formed during spermatogenesis in the testis, testicular spermatozoa are immature and cannot swim or fertilize. These critical spermatozoal functions are acquired in the epididymis where a specific luminal environment is created by the blood-epididymal barrier; proteins secreted by epididymal principal cells bind to maturing spermatozoa and regulate the maturational proc...