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...

Background: The present study aimed to investigate the presence of leptin mRNA transcript in epididymal spermatozoa of Holstein cattle by RT-PCR analysis. Materials and Methods: To collect sperm from epididymis, the whole testes of three adult Holstein bulls were quickly removed after slaughtering. Samples were transferred to the laboratory on ice and subsequently the epididymal contents were c...

Background Egg yolk is the main cryoprotectant agent in semen freezing extenders which is used in order to protect spermatozoa against cold shock. However elimination of animal bioproducts from the cryopreservation protocol is becoming mandatory. Therefore the aim of this study is to compare a previously studied homemade soya bean lecithin based extender with a commercially available extender f...

Effect of a combination of pesticides, viz. Delatmethrin 1% + Chlorpyriphos 35% EC, has been studied on the reproductive toxicology of wistar rats. Male rats were exposed to test substance at the dose level of 15, 25, and 35-mg/kg body weight for a consecutive period of 20 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, all the animals were subjected for necropsy, sperm parameters such as motilit...

Studies have reported the importance of mitochondria in sperm functionality. However, for some species, the glycolytic pathway appears to be as important as oxidative phosphorylation in ATP synthesis and sperm kinetics. These mechanisms have not been fully elucidated for bovine spermatozoa. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the role of mitochondria and the glycolytic pathway in A...

introduction artificial insemination (ai) has only been used as a supplement to natural mating. ai, when used in conjunction with accurate progeny testing schemes, can substantially increase the rate of genetic progress compared with that of natural service. moreover, the use of ai causes the limitation of the transmitted diseases. cervical insemination with frozen-thawed ram semen has not been...

Passage of spermatozoa through the epididymis and emission of sperm during ejaculation are based on spontaneous and induced contractions of epididymal peritubular muscle layers. This study deals with the ejaculation-relevant factors noradrenaline (NA) and oxytocin (OT) and their contractile effects in the course of the bovine epididymal duct. Muscle tension recording revealed excitatory effects...

background: recent studies have shown that benzene extract of ocimum sanctum (o. sanctum) leaves induces the ultrastructural changes in the epithelial cells of the cauda epididymis, its subsequent recovery in the seminiferous epithelium and fertility of male albino rats. objective: our aim was to investigate the effect of benzene extract of o.sanctum leaves on the cauda epididymal sperm paramet...

Guanethidine, a chemical that selectively blocks sympathetic noradrenergic neurons, was used to investigate the role of sympathetic innervation in the fertility of rat epididymal sperm, using both natural mating and in utero insemination protocols. This animal model correlates, at least in part, with spinal cord injury (SCI) in men. Adult male rats were treated daily by i.p. injections, for 21 ...