Talk:Testis Development

2009

New insights into epididymal biology and function

Hum Reprod Update. 2009 Mar-Apr;15(2):213-27. Epub 2009 Jan 8.

Cornwall GA. Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, 79430, USA. gail.cornwall@ttuhsc.edu

Abstract BACKGROUND: The epididymis performs an important role in the maturation of spermatozoa including their acquisition of progressive motility and fertilizing ability. However, the molecular mechanisms that govern these maturational events are still poorly defined. This review focuses on recent progress in our understanding of epididymal function including its development, role of the luminal microenvironment in sperm maturation, regulation and novel mechanisms the epididymis utilizes to carry out some of its functions. METHODS: A systematic search of Pubmed was carried out using the search term 'epididymis'. Articles that were published in the English language until the end of August 2008 and that focused on the specific topics described above were included. Additional papers cited in the primary reference were also included. RESULTS: While the majority of these findings were the result of studies in animal models, recent studies in the human epididymis are also presented including gene profiling studies to examine regionalized expression in normal epididymides as well as in those from vasectomized patients. CONCLUSIONS: Significant progress has been made in our understanding of epididymal function providing new insights that ultimately could improve human health. The data also indicate that the human epididymis plays an important role in sperm maturation but has unique properties compared with animal models.

PMID: 19136456

Background reading

• Aging of the human ovary and testis. Perheentupa A, Huhtaniemi I. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2009 Feb 5;299(1):2-13. Epub 2008 Nov 18. Review. PMID: 19059459
• Epithelial-mesenchymal crosstalk in Wolffian duct and fetal testis cord development. Archambeault DR, Tomaszewski J, Joseph A, Hinton BT, Yao HH. Genesis. 2009 Jan;47(1):40-8. Review. PMID: 18979542
• Mixed signals: development of the testis. Cool J, Capel B. Semin Reprod Med. 2009 Jan;27(1):5-13. Epub 2009 Feb 5. Review. PMID: 19197800