β-defensins, preferentially expressed in male reproductive tracts, particularly in the testes and epididymis with region-specific patterns, play an important role in both innate immunity and sperm fertility. Expressed in the caput region of epididymis, β-defensins have been known to contribute to innate immunity, sperm motility initiation, and maintenance. However, β-defensins of the initial re...

A sandwich e.l.i.s.a. method was developed to examine the distribution of lactoferrin in mouse reproductive tract. The lactoferrin concentration was found to be much higher in oviduct, uterus, vagina, vas deferens or epididymis than in serum, but the concentration in ovary, testis, seminal vesicle, prostate or coagulating gland was comparable with that in serum. The existence of lactoferrin in ...

Mammalian spermatozoa, produced by the testes, must undergo maturation in the epididymis to gain the ability to fertilize an ovum. This process includes structural modifications, such as changes in the lipid and protein composition of the plasma membrane. The CD81 and CD9 proteins, which are members of tetraspanin superfamily, have been found to be involved in the fertilization process. Our stu...

The aim of the study was to compare the localisation of oestrogen receptors a and b (ERa and ERb) in the human and rat epididymides. In the human epididymis the immunoexpression for ERa was detected in the nuclei of the caput epithelial cells, while positive reaction for ERb was observed in the nuclei of the cauda epithelial cells. In the rat epididymis, immunoexpression for ERa showed nuclei o...

testicles were isolated from dromedary camels in a local slaughterhouse at breeding and non-breeding seasons. sperms were recovered from different parts of the epididymis (caput, corpus and cauda) and stained separately on slide glasses by eosin nigrosin staining method and dried by a hair dryer and carried to the laboratory. in the lab, slides were observed for evaluation of the proportion of ...

Objective: To investigate the of epididymal width in identifying non obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and obstructive azoospermia (OA). Methods: Using scrotal ultrasound to compare difference of epididymal width between OA (n=18) and NOA (n=10) patients. Results: In the patients with OA average bilateral epididymal width is 0.7+0.1 cm, which is higher than the NOA patients (P<0.05) by ultrasonic m...

This study has attempted a n evaluation of the in vitro metabolic characteristics of the epididymis of the mouse and a definition of areas for further research pursuant to the elucidation of the role of this organ in the process of sperm maturation and storage. Optimal conditions were ascertained for the manometric measurement of total respiration and for the estimation of glycoIytic activity b...

Complete separation of the epididymis from the testis is a rare phenomenon. In all reported cases, both structures remained undescended. We recently managed a 2-month-old boy with bilateral inguinal hernia and complete dissociation of the epididymis from the testis on the left side. At exploration, a right indirect inguinal hernia was confirmed while on the left side, an indirect inguinal herni...

Objective: To investigate the of epididymal width in identifying non obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and obstructive azoospermia (OA). Methods: Using scrotal ultrasound to compare difference of epididymal width between OA (n=18) and NOA (n=10) patients. Results: In the patients with OA average bilateral epididymal width is 0.7+0.1 cm, which is higher than the NOA patients (P<0.05) by ultrasonic m...

introduction: tamoxifen is a nonstroidal antiestrogen prescribed for treatment of breast cancer. the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of tamoxifen on testosterone level in the serum and sperm count in the epididymis of adult male wistar rats. methods: three groups of rats received 200, 400 and 600 µg/kg body weight tamoxifen dissolved in solvent (60% ethanol in physiological solu...