The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of various physical interventions on the function of epididymal rat spermatozoa and determine whether there are correlations among these functional parameters. Epididymal rat spermatozoa were subjected to various mechanical (pipetting, centrifugation and Percoll gradient separation) and anisotonic conditions, and sperm motility, plasma me...

Past studies have shown that the epithelial lining of the epididymis in adult mice deficient in protective protein cathepsin A (PPCA -/-) becomes swollen and vacuolated as a result of an accumulation of pale lysosomes, some very large, in addition to the presence of an abundance of macrophages infiltrating the intertubular spaces. The purpose of this study was to assess the integrity of the epi...

The metamorphosis of an immature and nonfunctional sperm into a mature sperm capable of progressive motility and fertility is thought to be the result of a highly regulated and complex series of events in the epididymis. It is well established that sperm maturation is not intrinsic to sperm cells themselves but requires the interaction of spermatozoa with proteins that are synthesized and secre...

Hexaconazole is a systemic triazole fungicide used in agricultural practices. The aim of the present investigation is to study the toxic effect of Hexaconazole on the epididymal spermatozoa. The adult male rats were exposed to Hexaconazole at the dose of 25 mg/kg body weight, orally daily for 60 days. The control group received corn oil alone as vehicle. Third group of rats were administered wi...

BACKGROUND The 12 kD FK506 binding protein FKBP12 is a cytosolic receptor for the immunosuppressant drugs FK506 and rapamycin. In addition to its critical role in drug-induced T-cell immunosuppression, FKBP12 associates physiologically with ryanodine and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptors, regulating their ability to flux calcium. We investigated a role for FKBP12 in male reproductive...

Mammalian sperm contain the serine/threonine phosphatases PP1γ2 and PP2A. The role of sperm PP1γ2 is relatively well studied. Here we confirm the presence of PP2A in sperm and show that it undergoes marked changes in methylation (leucine 309), tyrosine phosphorylation (tyrosine 307) and catalytic activity during epididymal sperm maturation. Spermatozoa isolated from proximal caput, distal caput...

The effect of hypercholesterolaemia on testicular endocrine and exocrine function was evaluated. Furthermore, the influence of hypercholesterolaemia on sperm quality, quantity, and fertilizing potential was appreciated. Eight mature rabbits (group A) were fed chow containing 3% cholesterol for 12 weeks. An additional six rabbits (group B) were fed normal chow for the same period. At the end of ...

OBJECTIVE To investigate a possible protective role of lycopene on adriamycin (ADR)-induced spermiotoxicity using quantitative, biochemical and histopathological approaches. DESIGN Experimental study. SETTING Firat University Medical School, Experimental Research Centre, Elazig, Turkey. ANIMALS Twenty four Sprague Dawley rats (8-weeks old) INTERVENTION(S) Adriamycin (10 mg kg(-1)) was i...

PDC-109 is the prevalent secretory protein from bovine seminal vesicles that binds to the midpiece of sperm once they pass the ampulla of the vas deferens during emission. Thereby, the protein changes biophysical membrane properties, eventually resulting in increased sperm motility. To elucidate the underlying biochemical mechanism, we have studied the ion-pumping activity (Ca(2+)-ATPase) in me...

The interest to develop assisted reproductive technologies and cryobanking for farm animal genetic resource conservation has recently increased. However, cryopreservation for ex-situ management of genetic diversity sometimes is not routinely feasible, owing to the lack of facilities (AI centres, laboratories) and expertise near the local breed farming area. In these cases, epididymal sperm obta...