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Myelinosome-like vesicles in human seminal plasma: A cryo-electron microscopy study

M Yefimova1, E Bere2, A S Neyroud3

  • 1Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 44 pr. M Thorez, 194223, St-Petersburg, Russia; Laboratoire STIM, Equipe CMCS, ERL CNRS 7368, 1, rue Georges Bonnet, 86022, Poitiers Cedex, France; CHU de Rennes, Département de Gynécologie Obstétrique et Reproduction Humaine-CECOS, Hôpital Sud, 16 boulevard de Bulgarie, 35000, Rennes, France; Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) -UMR_S 1085, F-35000, Rennes, France.

Cryobiology
|September 25, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Human seminal plasma contains myelinosomes, which are large extracellular vesicles (EVs) previously only found in testes. Further research will define their specific biomarkers and functions.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Extracellular Vesicles Research

Background:

  • Seminal plasma is abundant in extracellular vesicles (EVs).
  • Myelinosomes are membranous organelles observed in the testis seminiferous epithelium.
  • Myelinosomes have not been previously reported in human semen.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence of myelinosomes in human seminal plasma.
  • To characterize the morphology of potential myelinosomes in seminal plasma.

Main Methods:

  • Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM).
  • Analysis of standard myelinosome preparations from TM4 Sertoli cells.
  • Analysis of human seminal plasma samples.

Main Results:

  • Cryo-EM specified the morphology of standard myelinosomes from TM4 Sertoli cells.
  • Vesicles with similar morphology to myelinosomes were identified in human seminal plasma.
  • Human seminal plasma contains large EVs (average diameter 200 nm) resembling myelinosomes.

Conclusions:

  • Human seminal plasma contains a population of large EVs with myelinosome-like morphology.
  • Further research is needed to define the specific biomarkers and functions of myelinosomes in human seminal plasma.
Keywords:
Extra cellular vesiclesHumanMyelinosomeSeminal plasmaSertoli cells

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