The epididymis re-visited: A personal view

Asian Journal of Andrology

Volumn 17, Issue 5, 2015, Pages 693-698

  Bedford, J Michael ^a  

^a WEILL CORNELL MEDICAL COLLEGE   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ANDROGEN;

ACROSOME; CELL MEMBRANE; CONFERENCE PAPER; EPIDIDYMIS; EPIDIDYMIS TAIL; HUMAN; NONHUMAN; SPERM PRESERVATION; SPERMATOZOON CAPACITATION; SPERMATOZOON MATURATION; SPERMATOZOON MIGRATION; ANATOMY AND HISTOLOGY; ANIMAL; MALE; PHYSIOLOGY; SPERMATOZOON; SPERMATOZOON MOTILITY;

ANIMALS; EPIDIDYMIS; HUMANS; MALE; SPERM MATURATION; SPERM MOTILITY; SPERMATOZOA;

EID: 84940763429     PISSN: 1008682X     EISSN: 17457262     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.4103/1008-682X.153297     Document Type: Conference Paper

References (72)

1. Hunter RH, Holtz W, Henfrey PJ. Epididymal function in the boar in relation to the fertilizing ability of spermatozoa. J Reprod Fertil 1976; 46: 463-6.
2. Young WC. A study of the function of the epididymis. III Functional changes undergone by spermatozoa during their passage through the epididymis and vas deferens in the guineas pig. J Exp Biol 1931; 8: 151-62.
3. Blandau RJ, Rumery RE. Fertilizing capacity of spermatozoa recovered from various segments of the epididymis. Anat Rec 1964; 139: 202.
4. Bedford JM. Development of the fertilizing ability of spermatozoa in the epididymis of the rabbit. J Exp Zool 1966; 163; 319-30.
5. Orgebin-Crist MC. Sperm maturation in rabbit epididymis. Nature 1967; 216: 816-8.
6. Horan AH, Bedford JM. Development of the fertilizing ability of spermatozoa in the epididymis of the Syrian hamster. J Reprod Fertil 1972; 30: 417-23.
7. Bedford JM, Hunter RH. The influence of X-irradiation of rabbit spermatozoa on fertilization and early cleavage. J Reprod Fertil 1968; 17: 49-57.
8. Bedford JM. Sperm dynamics in the epididymis. In: Asch RH, Balmaceda JP, Johnston I, editors. Gamete Physiology. Norwell, Massachusetts: Serono Symposia USA; 1990. p. 53-67.
9. Cross BA, Glover TD. The hypothalamus and seminal emission. J Endocrinol 1958; 16: 385-95.
10. Overstreet JW, Bedford JM. Transport, capacitation and fertilizing ability of epididymal spermatozoa. J Exp Zool 1974; 89: 203-14.
11. Bedford JM. Effects of duct ligation on the fertilizing ability of spermatozoa from different regions of the rabbit epididymis. J Exp Zool 1967; 166: 271-81.
12. Orgebin-Crist MC. Studies on the function of the epididymis. Biol Reprod 1969; 1 Suppl 1: 155-75.
13. Bedford JM. Changes in the electrophoretic properties of rabbit spermatozoa during passage through the epididymis. Nature 1963; 200: 1178-80.
14. Bedford JM. Biology of primate spermatozoa. Contrib Primatol 1974; 3: 97-139.
15. Sullivan R, Saez F. Epididymosomes, prostasomes, and liposomes: their roles in mammalian male reproductive physiology. Reproduction 2013; 146: R21-35.
16. Jones R. Plasma membrane structure and remodelling during sperm maturation in the epididymis. J Reprod Fertil Suppl 1998; 53: 73-84.
17. Cross NL. Role of cholesterol in sperm capacitation. Biol Reprod 1998; 59: 7-11.
18. Bedford JM. Evolution of the sperm maturation and sperm storage functions of the epididymis. In: Fawcett DW, Bedford JM, editors. The Spermatozoon-Maturation, Motility, Surface Properties and Comparative Aspects. Baltimore: Urban and Schwarzenberg; 1979. p. 7-22.
19. Depeiges A, Dufaure JP. Binding to spermatozoa of a major soluble protein secreted by the epididymis of the lizard, Lacerta vivipara. Gamete Res 1983; 7: 401-6.
20. Esponda P, Bedford JM. Surface of the rooster spermatozoon changes in passing through the Wolffian duct. J Exp Zool 1985; 234: 441-9.
21. Esponda P, Bedford JM. Post-testicular change in the reptile sperm surface with particular reference to the snake, Natrix fasciata. J Exp Zool 1987; 241: 123-32.
22. Tulsiani DR. Glycan-modifying enzymes in luminal fluid of the mammalian epididymis: an overview of their potential role in sperm maturation. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2006; 250: 58-65.
23. Rifkin JM, Olson GE. Characterization of maturation-dependent extrinsic proteins of the rat sperm surface. J Cell Biol 1985; 100: 1582-91.
24. Derr P, Yeung C.H., Cooper TG, Kirchhoff C. Synthesis and glycosylation of CD52, the major 'maturation-associated' antigen of rat spermatozoa, in the cauda epididymidis. Reproduction 2001; 121: 435-46.
25. Bedford JM. Morphological changes in rabbit spermatozoa during passage through the epididymis. J Reprod Fertil 1963; 5: 169-77.
26. Bedford JM. Changes in fine structure of the rabbit sperm head during passage through the epididymis. J Anat 1965; 99: 891-906.
27. Fawcett DW, Hollenberg RD. Changes in the acrosome of the guinea pig spermatozoa during passage through the epididymis. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat 1963; 60: 276-92.
28. Fawcett DW, Phillips DH. Observations on the release of spermatozoa and on changes in the head during passage through the epididymis. J Reprod Fertil 1969; Suppl 6: 405-18.
29. Temple-Smith PD, Bedford JM. The features of sperm maturation in the epididymis of a marsupial, the brushtailed possum Trichosurus vulpecula. Am J Anat 1976; 147: 471-99.
30. Lin M, Rodger JC. Acrosome formation during sperm transit through the epididymis in two marsupials, the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) and the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). J Anat 1999; 194 (Pt 2): 223-32.
31. Bedford JM. Unpublished observations.
32. Bedford JM, Calvin H, Cooper GW. The maturation of spermatozoa in the human epididymis. J Reprod Fertil Suppl 1973; 18: 199-213.
33. Olson GE, Winfrey VP, Bi M, Hardy DM, NagDas SK. Zonadhesin assembly into the hamster sperm acrosomal matrix occurs by distinct targeting strategies during spermiogenesis and maturation in the epididymis. Biol Reprod 2004; 71: 1128-34.
34. Buffone MG, Foster JA, Gerton GL. The role of the acrosomal matrix in fertilization. Int J Dev Biol 2008; 52: 511-22.
35. Puigmule M, Fabrega A, Yeste M, Bonet S, Pinart E. Study of the proacrosin/acrosin system in epididymal, ejaculated and in vitro-capacitated boar spermatozoa. Reprod Fertil Dev 2011; 23: 837-45.
36. Calvin HI, Bedford JM. Formation of disulphide bonds in the nucleus and accessory structures of mammalian spermatozoa during maturation in the epididymis. J Reprod Fertil Suppl 1971; 13 Suppl 13: 65-75.
37. Bedford JM, Calvin HI. Changes in-S-S-linked structures of the sperm tail during epididymal maturation, with comparative observations in sub-mammalian species. J Exp Zool 1974; 187: 181-204.
38. Bedford JM, Calvin HI. The occurrence and possible functional significance of-S-S-crosslinks in sperm heads, with particular reference to eutherian mammals. J Exp Zool 1974; 188: 137-55.
39. Belonoschkin B. Biology of spermatozoa in the human testis and epididymis. Arch Gynecol 1942; 174: 357-63.
40. Young D. Surgical treatment of male infertility. J Reprod Fertil 1970; 23: 541-2.
41. Hanley HG. Pregnancy following artificial insemination from epididymal cyst. Proc Soc Study Fertil 1956; 8: 20-1.
42. Tezón JG, Ramella E, Cameo MS, Vazquez MH, Blaquier JA. Immunochemical localization of secretory antigens in the human epididymis and their association with spermatozoa. Biol Reprod 1985; 32: 591-7.
43. Yeung C.H., Cooper TG, Oberpenning F, Schultze H, Nieschlag E. Changes in movement characteristics of human sperm along the length of the epididymis. Biol Reprod 1993; 49: 274-80.
44. Schoysman RJ, Bedford JM. The role of the human epididymis in sperm maturation and sperm storage as reflected in the consequences of epididymovasostomy. Fertil Steril 1986; 46: 293-9.
45. Silber SJ. Role of epididymis in sperm maturation. Urology 1989; 33: 47-51.
46. Patrizio P, Ord T, Silber SJ, Asch RH. Correlation between epididymal length and fertilization rate in men with congenital absence of the vas deferens. Fertil Steril 1994; 61: 265-8.
47. Silber SJ. Pregnancy caused by sperm from vasa efferentia. Fertil Steril 1988; 49: 373-5.
48. Schoysman R. Clinical situations challenging the established concept of epididymal physiology in the human. Acta Eur Fertil 1993; 24: 55-60.
49. Krull N, Ivell R, Osterhoff C, Kirchhoff C. Region-specific variation of gene expression in the human epididymis as revealed by in situ hybridization with tissue-specific cDNAs. Mol Reprod Dev 1993; 34: 16-24.
50. Bedford JM. Anatomical evidence for the epididymis as the prime mover in the evolution of the scrotum. Am J Anat 1978; 152: 483-507.
51. Cummins JM, Glover TD. Artificial cryptorchidism and fertility in the rabbit. J Reprod Fertil 1970; 23: 423-33.
52. Bedford JM. Influence of abdominal temperature on epididymal function in the rat and rabbit. Am J Anat 1978; 152: 509-21.
53. Wong PY, Au CL, Bedford JM. Biology of the scrotum. II. Suppression by abdominal temperature of transepithelial ion and water transport in the cauda epididymidis. Biol Reprod 1982; 26: 683-9.
54. Esponda P, Bedford JM. The influence of body temperature and castration on the protein composition of fluid in the rat cauda epididymidis. J Reprod Fertil 1986; 78: 505-14.
55. Regalado F, Esponda P, Nieto A. Temperature and androgens regulate the biosynthesis of secretory proteins from rabbit cauda epididymidis. Mol Reprod Dev 1993; 36: 448-53.
56. Bedford JM, Yanagimachi R. Epididymal storage at abdominal temperature reduces the time required for capacitation of hamster spermatozoa. J Reprod Fertil 1991; 91: 403-10.
57. Foldesy RG, Bedford JM. Biology of the scrotum I. Temperature and androgen as determinants of the sperm storage capacity of the rat cauda epididymidis. Biol Reprod 1982; 26: 673-82.
58. Bedford JM, Kim HH. Cumulus oophorus as a sperm sequestering device, in vivo. J Exp Zool 1993; 265: 321-8.
59. Bedford JM. The status and the state of the human epididymis. Hum Reprod 1994; 9: 2187-99.
60. Pellestor F, Girardet A, Andreo B. Effect of long abstinence periods on human sperm quality. Int J Fertil Menopausal Stud 1994; 39: 278-82.
61. Rowley MJ, Teshima F, Heller CG. Duration of transit of spermatozoa through the human male ductular system. Fertil Steril 1970; 21: 390-6.
62. Johnson L, Varner DD. Effect of daily spermatozoan production but not age on transit time of spermatozoa through the human epididymis. Biol Reprod 1988; 39: 812-7.
63. Morris SA, Howarth B Jr, Crim JW, Rodriguez de Cordoba A, Esponda P, et al. Specificity of sperm-binding Wolffian duct proteins in the rooster and their persistence on spermatozoa in the female host glands. J Exp Zool 1987; 242: 189-98.
64. Nagdas SK, Skudlarek MD, Orgebin-Crist MC, Tulsiani DR. Biochemical alterations in the proacrosin-acrosin system during epididymal maturation of the rat spermatozoa. J Androl 1992; 13: 36-43.
65. Bedford JM. Singular features of fertilization and their impact on the male reproductive system in eutherian mammals. Reproduction 2013; 147: R43-52.
66. Nixon B, Ecroyd HW, Dacheux JL, Jones RC. Monotremes provide a key to understanding the evolutionary significance of epididymal sperm maturation. J Androl 2011; 32: 665-71.
67. Clulow J, Jones RC. Production, transport, maturation, storage and survival of spermatozoa in the male Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix. J Reprod Fertil 1982; 64: 259-66.
68. Roosen-Runge EC. The Process of Spermatogenesis in Animals. London: Cambridge University Press; 1977.
69. Wolfson A. Sperm storage at lower-than-body temperature outside the body cavity in some passerine birds. Science 1954; 120: 68-71.
70. Voss JL, Squires EL, Pickett BW, Shideler RK, Eikenberry DJ. Effect of number and frequency of inseminations on fertility of mares. J Reprod Fertil Suppl 1982; 32: 53-7.
71. Mattner PE, Braden AW. Studies in flock mating of sheep. 2. Fertilization and prenatal mortality. Aust J Exp Agric Anim Husbandry 1967; 7: 110-6.
72. Fulkerson WJ, Synnott AL, Lindsay DR. Numbers of spermatozoa required to effect a normal rate of conception in naturally mated Merino ewes. J Reprod Fertil 1982; 66: 129-32.