Living cells, including spermatozoa, stored under aerobic conditions require oxygen to support their normal metabolism. Excessive levels of metabolites (reactive oxygen species; ROS) can cause cell damage or lipid peroxidation. The ROS and lipid peroxidation can be detected during preparation and cryopreservation of mammalian spermatozoa. The negative effects of ROS can be partially ameliorated...

The effect of cold storage of testes and epididymides at 4 °C for 12 h on the cryopreservation capacity of epididymal feline sperm was evaluated. Ten domestic cats were castrated, and testes and epididymides collected. Specimens were randomly assigned to two groups: in Group A, epididymal samples were immediately processed and frozen in 0.25-ml straws; in Group B, both testes and epididymides w...

We show here that a reverse transcriptase (RT) activity is present in murine epididymal spermatozoa. Sperm cells incubated with human poliovirus RNA can take up exogenous RNA molecules and internalize them in nuclei. Direct PCR amplification of DNA extracted from RNA-incubated spermatozoa indicate that poliovirus RNA is reverse-transcribed in cDNA fragments. PCR analysis of two-cell embryos sho...

Objective: Caprine (Capra indicus) spermatozoa possess a novel ecto-cAMP independent protein kinase (ectoCIK) on their membrane surface. This enzyme showed remarkable alteration through the maturation process of spermatozoa in epididymis. We investigated the role of CIK in the regulation of forward motility of epididymal spermatozoa by controlling the intracellular level of [Ca2+]. Method: Caud...

Prominin-1/CD133 is a five-membrane-span glycoprotein that is thought to act as an organizer of plasma-membrane protrusions. Here, we report the molecular and cell-biological characterization of four novel prominin-1 splice variants isolated from a mouse testis cDNA library and referred to as prominin-1.s3 to prominin-1.s6. Compared with kidney-derived prominin-1.s1, the s3, s4 and s5 variants ...

Hormonal male contraception requires an induction phase before azoospermia and contraceptive safety are achieved. The nature of spermatozoa that may be ejaculated during this induction phase was studied in a nonhuman primate. The GnRH antagonist Cetrorelix was administered daily to five cynomolgus monkeys to induce testicular regression, and the vehicle was given to five control animals. Within...

Glycoproteins on the plasma membrane of testicular and cauda epididymidal spermatozoa have been labeled with galactose oxidase/NaB [3H]4 and sodium metaperiodate/NaB[3H]4, followed by analysis on SDS polyacrylamide gels. The major glycoprotein labeling on testicular spermatozoa has a molecular weight 110,000 whereas on cauda epididymidal spermatozoa greater than 90% of the radio-label is incorp...

During its passage through the epididymis, the gamete undergoes a process of "maturation" leading to the acquisition of its fertilizing ability. The epididymis displays regional variations in the morphology and metabolic properties of its epithelium which are relevant for the progressive development of mature sperm characteristics. The epididymis has spontaneous peristaltic contractions and rec...