Mechanism for selective acquisition of functional proteins in sperm during epididymal transit

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24880010
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Applied animal science
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: ASANO Atsushi 筑波大学, 生命環境系, 助教 (10630981)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-08-31 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 精子 / 精巣上体成熟 / 細胞膜 / 受精

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Sperm undergo functional maturation by selectively taking up molecules during epididymal transit, in order to become competent to fertilize egg (so called epididymal maturation). Recent studies showed that this process is mediated by exosomes secreted from epididymal epithelia. However, the mechanism involved in selective acquirement of molecules is poorly understood. This led us to investigate the mechanism for epididymal maturation with particular focus on membrane function.
Given results suggested that sperm selectively acquire protein from exosomes. Regulatory mechanism of pH that is known to affect protein acquirement was suggested to involve the cellular signaling pathway. In addition to this, results suggested the possibility that secretion of exosomes mainly occurs in caput epididymis.

Free Research Field

繁殖生物学