INTRODUCTION Male infertility caused by azoospermia due to non-reconstructable obstruction or non-obstructive azoospermia can be treated by microsurgical epididymal aspiration (MESA) or testicular sperm extraction (TESE) followed by an intracytoplasmatic spermatozoa injection (ICSI). MATERIAL AND METHODS From 9/93 to 6/01, we carried out 1,025 ICSI procedures with aspirated epididymal or test...

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...

© 1998 Journals of Reproduction and Fertility 1359-6004/98 $12.50 Before mammalian spermatozoa can interact with the egg in vivo, they are subjected to post-testicular modifications in the male as well as in the female genital tract. The evidence that this post-testicular maturation process requires exposure to a specific microenvironment within the epididymis has been reviewed elsewhere (Orgeb...

Two experiments were designed to examine the effects of crude seminal plasma (CSP) exposure ofejaculated and epididymal spermatozoa before freezing. Experiment 1, two consecutive ejaculates werecollected (n=4) within 5 min, the second one was carried out in a tube containing Fiser extender (coatedspermatozoa); by centrifugation, seminal plasma was removed from coated ejaculates. The pellets wer...

The well orchestrated function of epididymal smooth muscle cells ensures transit of spermatozoa through the epididymal duct during which spermatozoa acquire motility and fertilizing capacity. Relaxation of smooth muscle cells is mediated by cGMP signaling and components of this pathway are found within the male reproductive tract. Whereas contractile function of caudal parts of the rat epididym...

recent studies show that synthetic glucocorticoids alter testicular homeostasis, in this regard, the influence of betamethasone as a glucocorticoid widely used on histological changes, epididymal sperm counts and fertility was explored in male mice. the study sample (50 mice) was allocated to 3 treatment groups, placebo and a control group. control group was no injected. only normal saline was ...