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...

Hamster spermatozoa, collected from the caput and the cauda of the epididymis, are known to differ in their motility. They do not normally acquire fertilizing ability until they reach the proximal portion of the cauda epididymidis. The aim of the present investigation was to test the fertilizing capacity of spermatozoa from the caput epididymis after initiation. Sperm cells were incubated by ad...

CONTEXT Several sperm retrieval techniques are available for use on azoospeermic men. Comparisons between spermatozoa retrieved from the testicles and epididymis in relation to pregnancy and miscarriage rates are not well established. OBJECTIVE To compare pregnancy and miscarriage rates using sperm retrieved from the testes and epididymis using intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Furthermore, w...

Previous studies have shown that epididymal epithelium and its secretions are critical for sperm maturation. These secretions contain many glycoconjugates with sialic acid terminal sugar. This terminal sugar by interveining in cellular interactions and masking surface receptors, has an important role in sperm maturation and protection. Moreover lectins have been employed as useful probes to det...

In most species examined to date, spermatozoa mature during transit through the epididymis to become functionally competent to swim progressively, fertilize oocytes, and produce viable offspring. In the studies presented here, the status of spermatozoa obtained from the regions of the epididymis of the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) was examined. Epididymal fluid was collected by micro...

BACKGROUND Relaxin levels in seminal plasma have been associated with positive effects on sperm motility and quality, and thus having potential roles in male fertility. However, the origin of seminal relaxin, within the male reproductive tract, and the moment of its release in the vicinity of spermatozoa remain unclear. Here, we assessed the longitudinal distribution of relaxin and its receptor...

Acquisition of fertilization ability by spermatozoa during epididymal transit occurs in part by the transfer of molecules from membranous vesicles called epididymosomes. Epididymosomes are heterogeneous in terms of both size and molecular composition. Exosomes and other related small membranous vesicles (30-120 nm) containing tetraspanin proteins on their surface are found in many biological fl...