Epididymal Maturation of Human Spermatozoa
Abstract：All of the major functions of sperm that are required for them tofertilise an egg (relevant motility, uniform morphology, ability to bind to the zona pellucida, capacity to undergo the acrosome reaction, capacity to fuse with the vitellus, condensed chromatin, the ability to fertilise eggs in vivo and in vitro and the ability to support normal embryo development) are acquired within the human epididymal canal. Many secreted epididymal glycoproteins have been identified that bind to particular sperm membrane domains and appear to be involved in facilitating sperm-ovum interaction. The ability of “immature” sperm from the proximal epididymis or germ cells from the testis to initiate embryo development as a result of artificial reproductive technologies (ART) depends on the bypassing of the very steps that require epididymal input; that of permitting survival in the female tract and transport to and through the egg investments. Ntl J Androl,2001,7(1):1～9
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Publication Date：2001-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：9( 1-9 )