The Fertilizing Life of Spermatozoa in the Cauda Epididymidis of Mice and Hamsters

Lubicz-Nawrocki, C. M.; Lau, Nancy I. F.; Chang, M. C.

doi:10.1530/jrf.0.0350165

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 5 publications

(11 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The role of the cauda epididymis in sperm storage is also indicated by the ®nding that spermatozoa present in the vas deferens following ejaculation are returned to the cauda epididymis (Prins & Zaneveld, 1980). Studies on a number of scrotal mammals have shown that spermatozoa isolated in the cauda epididymis between ligatures can maintain their capacity to fertilize an oocyte for 3 weeks or more, and their motility is retained nearly twice as long as their capacity to fertilize (Young, 1929;White, 1933;Lubricz-Nawrocki et al, 1973;Pau¯er & Foote, 1968;Chaturapanich et al, 1992). Nevertheless, the importance of a sperm storage region in the human epididymis has been questioned as some patients have achieved conceptions by natural matings after the cauda epididymis was bypassed by vaso-epididymostomy (Schoysman & Bedford, 1986;Temple-Smith et al, 1999).…”

Section: Sperm Storage In the Mammalian Epididymismentioning

confidence: 99%

To store or mature spermatozoa? The primary role of the epididymis

1999

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The function of the epididymis is considered in the context that it is necessary to transport spermatozoa for internal fertilization, but is also an adaptation involved in the competition between males to achieve paternity. Post-testicular sperm maturation and storage occur in lower vertebrates, such as the chondrichthyes, in which sperm storage is essential due to the slow rate of spermatogenesis. These roles persist in higher vertebrates, including mammals. However, they are less important in certain birds, in which the rate of sperm production by the testes is sufficient to supply enough spermatozoa to cope with the demands of a competitive mating system. There is no evidence for mammals, other than humans, that spermatozoa can achieve the capacity to fertilize an ovum without passing through some of the proximal epididymis. Storage of spermatozoa in the epididymis is probably not essential for a male to achieve conception in a protected mating system, but is very important in a competitive mating system. There is some variation between species in the magnitude of the epididymal storage region. This is related to the descent of the epididymides (and testes) into a scrotal sac in some species and/or the demands of the mating system in other species. The claims that humans are not dependent on post-testicular sperm maturation and storage need to be qualified, as they are based on studies of abnormal tracts and tests of fertility which are not rigorous. Nevertheless, the claims are of considerable clinical significance and may indicate that humans are less dependent on post-testicular sperm maturation and storage than other mammals. This may be an adaptation of the testes and epididymides to the scrotal conditions of modern man or a response to changing environmental factors.

show abstract

Section: Sperm Storage In the Mammalian Epididymismentioning

confidence: 99%

To store or mature spermatozoa? The primary role of the epididymis

1999

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Although mature spermatozoa are known to have a short life span, because they have no capacity for synthesis, they can remain viable and fertile in the epididymis for several weeks in vivo (e.g. 20 to 30 days in the guinea pig (Young, 1929), 21 days in the rat (White, 1933), 28 to 35 days in the rabbit (Tesh and Glover, 1969), and 20 to 25 days in the hamster (Lubicz-Nawrocki et al, 1973)). The epididymal environment is thus an efficient storage medium, and understanding of its preservation conditions might be a way to improve in vitro sperm preservation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fertility of undiluted ram epididymal spermatozoa stored for several days at 4°C

Abella

Costa

Guérin

et al. 2015

Animal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In vitro preservation of the male gamete is a challenge in the development of artificial insemination techniques for domestic animals. Specific strategies and diluents have been developed for the preservation of the fertilizing ability of the semen for each species. However, the epididymal medium has been demonstrated to be the best sperm environment to maintain sperm viability over several days and weeks for mammals. The aims of this study were to evaluate the motility and in vivo fertility of ram epididymal spermatozoa when the semen was stored for up to 4 days at 4°C undiluted in epididymal plasma. The study was undertaken with two ovine breeds (Ile de France and Corriedale). The motility of epididymal spermatozoa was better preserved in the undiluted epididymal fluid than when epididymal spermatozoa were diluted in classic ovine extender such as skim milk. During storage, the decrease in the percentage of motile sperm was lower if the epididymal spermatozoa were collected immediately after epididymal sampling than 24 h after castration or animal death. The fertility obtained after cryopreservation of the stored sperm and subsequent intrauterine insemination ranged from 55% to 24% following 24 to 96-h sperm storage. There was a linear regression relationship between fertility and the number of motile sperm inseminated for both breeds. These results show that it is possible to keep epididymal sperm motile and fertile for several days without dilution. Such a method of sperm preservation could be a final possibility for animals of high genetic value or for endangered species when the collection of semen before death of the animal is not possible.

show abstract

The effect of metabolites of testosterone on the development of fertilizing ability by spermatozoa in the epididymis of castrated hamsters

Cm¹

1976

J. Exp. Zool.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The effects of testosterone, 17beta-hydroxy-5alpha-androstane-3-one (5alpha-dihydrotestosterone; 5alpha-DHT), 5alpha-androstane-3alpha, 17beta-diol (3alpha-androstanediol; 3alpha-diol) and 5alpha-androstane-3beta, 17beta-diol (3beta-androstanediol; 3beta-diol) on the development of fertilizing ability by spermatozoa in the epididymis were compared in castrated hamsters. The left corpus epididymidis was ligated for 14 days in intact and castrated animals to prevent the in-flow of spermatozoa into the cauda epididymidis and the ductuli efferentes were bilaterally ligated. The fertilization rate of spermatozoa in the left cauda epididymidis of control animals decreased to 71.1% after 14 days whereas that of spermatozoa in the unobstructed right cauda epididymis remained at the control level of 100%. After castration, 50 mug testosterone, 25 mug 5alpha-DHT and only 9 mug 3alpha-diol/day were the minimal doses that facilitated normal development of fertilizing ability but 75 mug testosterone, 37.5 mug 5alpha-DHT and 12.5 mug 3alpha-diol/day were required to maintain sperm survival at the control level. However, 3beta-diol was ineffective for both sperm maturation and survival.

show abstract

The Fertilizing Life of Spermatozoa in the Cauda Epididymidis of Mice and Hamsters

Cited by 7 publications

References 5 publications

To store or mature spermatozoa? The primary role of the epididymis

To store or mature spermatozoa? The primary role of the epididymis

Fertility of undiluted ram epididymal spermatozoa stored for several days at 4°C

The effect of metabolites of testosterone on the development of fertilizing ability by spermatozoa in the epididymis of castrated hamsters

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About