scholarly journals Estrogens and development of the rete testis, efferent ductules, epididymis and vas deferens

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rex A. Hess ◽  
Richard M. Sharpe ◽  
Barry T. Hinton
Keyword(s):  
Vas Deferens ◽  
Rete Testis ◽  
Efferent Ductules

scholarly journals Effect of Deprival of Rete Testis Fluid on the Morphology of Efferent Ductules 1

1983 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 525-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. W. Gray ◽  
B. G. Brown ◽  
V. K. Ganjam ◽  
J. F. Whitesides
Keyword(s):  
Rete Testis ◽  
Efferent Ductules

scholarly journals Motile cilia of the male reproductive system require miR-34/miR-449 for development and function to generate luminal turbulence

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (9) ◽  
pp. 3584-3593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuiqiao Yuan ◽  
Yue Liu ◽  
Hongying Peng ◽  
Chong Tang ◽  
Grant W. Hennig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rete Testis ◽  
Cell Surfaces ◽  
Efferent Duct ◽  
Genetic Ablation ◽  
Efferent Ductules ◽  
Mirna Clusters ◽  
Motile Cilia ◽  
And Function ◽  
Metachronal Waves ◽  
Immotile Spermatozoa

Cilia are cell-surface, microtubule-based organelles that project into extracellular space. Motile cilia are conserved throughout eukaryotes, and their beat induces the flow of fluid, relative to cell surfaces. In mammals, the coordinated beat of motile cilia provides highly specialized functions associated with the movement of luminal contents, as seen with metachronal waves transporting mucus in the respiratory tract. Motile cilia are also present in the male and female reproductive tracts. In the female, wave-like motions of oviductal cilia transport oocytes and embryos toward the uterus. A similar function has been assumed for motile cilia in efferent ductules of the male—i.e., to transport immotile sperm from rete testis into the epididymis. However, we report here that efferent ductal cilia in the male do not display a uniform wave-like beat to transport sperm solely in one direction, but rather exert a centripetal force on luminal fluids through whip-like beating with continual changes in direction, generating turbulence, which maintains immotile spermatozoa in suspension within the lumen. Genetic ablation of two miRNA clusters (miR-34b/c and -449a/b/c) led to failure in multiciliogenesis in murine efferent ductules due to dysregulation of numerous genes, and this mouse model allowed us to demonstrate that loss of efferent duct motile cilia causes sperm aggregation and agglutination, luminal obstruction, and sperm granulomas, which, in turn, induce back-pressure atrophy of the testis and ultimately male infertility.

Immunolocalization of aquaporins 1, 2 and 7 in rete testis, efferent ducts, epididymis and vas deferens of adult dog

2008 ◽  
Vol 332 (2) ◽  
pp. 329-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Fantin Domeniconi ◽  
Antonio Marcos Orsi ◽  
Luis Antonio Justulin ◽  
Célia Cristina Leme Beu ◽  
Sérgio Luis Felisbino
Keyword(s):  
Vas Deferens ◽  
Rete Testis ◽  
Efferent Ducts

scholarly journals Blockage of the Rete Testis and Efferent Ductules by Ectopic Sertoli and Leydig Cells Causes Infertility inDax1-Deficient Male Mice

Endocrinology ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 142 (10) ◽  
pp. 4486-4495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baxter Jeffs ◽  
Joshua J. Meeks ◽  
Masafumi Ito ◽  
Fred A. Martinson ◽  
Martin M. Matzuk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leydig Cells ◽  
Rete Testis ◽  
Male Mice ◽  
Efferent Ductules

270 PROGRESSIVE INCORPORATION OF CENEXIN IS RELATED TO SPERM MATURATION DURING EPIDIDYMAL TRANSIT IN THE DOMESTIC CAT

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 224
Author(s):  
T. Rowlison ◽  
M. A. Ottinger ◽  
P. Comizzoli
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Vas Deferens ◽  
Rete Testis ◽  
Domestic Cat ◽  
Sperm Maturation ◽  
Developmental Potential ◽  
Progressive Movement ◽  
Testicular Spermatozoa ◽  
Labelling Intensity ◽  
Adult Cat

The sperm centrosome is an essential organelle playing a key role just after penetration into the oocyte. It serves to organise the sperm aster, which is required for syngamy and formation of the first mitotic spindle. It is also associated with acquisition of motility during epididymal transit. Previously, we demonstrated that testicular spermatozoa exhibit reduced developmental potential after oocyte injection due to the presence of an immature centrosome [Comizzoli et al. 2006 Biol. Reprod. 75, 252–260]. Centrosome and flagellum maturation naturally occur during epididymal transit where secreted proteins impart changes on the sperm to acquire its functional properties. The objective of this study was to better understand centrosome and flagellum maturation and identify key proteins that could be used to artificially mature testicular spermatozoa. Specifically, we focused our effort on cenexin, a protein that has been reported to aid in maturation of the flagellum and somatic cell centrosome. Epididymides were dissected from adult cat testes (>1 yr old). Spermatozoa were then extracted from the different regions (caput, corpus, cauda, and vas deferens) by slicing with a scalpel blade in phosphate buffered saline at 37°C and processed separately. Control samples were also collected from the rete testis. After recording sperm motility and forward progressive movement (FPM, from 0 = immotile to 5 = fast and straight), cells were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and immunostained with anti-cenexin antibodies labelled with a fluorescent probe. The proportion of cells with cenexin at the location of the centrosome and the intensity of immunofluorescence were quantified (n = 8 and 4 testes, respectively). The same methods were followed for detection of cenexin in the tail portion (n = 4 testes). Statistical analyses were conducted using repeated-measures and treatments were further compared using either a protected Tukey's or F-test for orthogonal contrasts. The proportion of sperm with cenexin localised at the centrosome progressively increased along the tract with the lowest percentage of stained cells in the testis and highest proportion in the cauda (45 v. 81%, T28 = 4.65, P < 0.0001). Among the labelled sperm, the intensity of immunofluorescence also significantly increased from the testis to vas deferens (4.33 v. 8.57 mean grey value; T12 = 3.29, P < 0.0065). Both motility and FPM increased from the testis to cauda segment (0 v. 93%, F4,15 = 13.53, P < 0.0001 and 0 v. 3.8 FPM, F4,15 = 26.67, P < 0.0001); however, the proportion with cenexin in the tail (range, 20 to 36%) as well as the labelling intensity (range, 3.14 to 5.26 mean grey value) did not change (P > 0.05) along the tract. These results clearly indicate that cenexin may be associated with centrosome but not flagellum maturation. Epididymal epithelial cells and luminal fluid from each segment are being examined to better understand the source of cenexin secretion and its incorporation into spermatozoa. Results from these studies will aid in further understanding the physiology of sperm maturation during epididymal transit and increase male fertility preservation options.

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