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Related Concept Videos

Fertilization01:38

Fertilization

During fertilization, an egg and sperm cell fuse to create a new diploid structure. In humans, the process occurs once the egg has been released from the ovary, and travels into the fallopian tubes. The process requires several key steps: 1) sperm present in the genital tract must locate the egg; 2) once there, sperm need to release enzymes to help them burrow through the protective zona pellucida of the egg; and 3) the membranes of a single sperm cell and egg must fuse, with the sperm...
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Spermatogenesis is the process by which haploid sperm cells are produced in the male testes. It starts with stem cells located close to the outer rim of seminiferous tubules. These spermatogonial stem cells divide asymmetrically to give rise to additional stem cells (meaning that these structures “self-renew”), as well as sperm progenitors, called spermatocytes. Importantly, this method of asymmetric mitotic division maintains a population of spermatogonial stem cells in the male reproductive...
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The journey of sperm from its origin to the point of ejaculation begins within the seminiferous tubules of the testis. Here, Sertoli cells produce fluid that propels non-motile sperm through a series of conduits, starting with the straight tubules leading to the rete testis. This interconnected network of tubules acts as the initial pathway for sperm, guiding them into the efferent ductules and then into the epididymis for maturation.
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In Vitro Fertilization01:24

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In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a form of assisted reproductive technology where an egg is fertilized with sperm in a controlled laboratory environment before transferring the resulting embryo into the uterus. This process is designed to help individuals and couples experiencing difficulties conceiving.
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Meiosis II01:57

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Meiosis II is the second and final stage of meiosis. It relies on the haploid cells produced during meiosis I, each of which contain only 23 chromosomes—one from each homologous initial pair. Importantly, each chromosome in these cells is composed of two joined copies, and when these cells enter meiosis II, the goal is to separate such sister chromatids using the same microtubule-based network employed in other division processes. The result of meiosis II is two haploid cells, each containing...
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Male infertility affects millions of couples worldwide, arising from various factors that impact different stages of the reproductive process. An endocrine imbalance resulting from conditions like hypogonadism, Klinefelter syndrome, or pituitary disorders can disrupt hormone levels and reduce sperm production. Testicular defects, such as tumors, cryptorchidism, atrophic testes, abnormal sperm morphology, and low sperm count or motility, may arise due to genetic factors, structural...

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Updated: May 31, 2026

Stable Isotope In-Vivo Labeling for Mass-Spectrometry Identification of Paternal Metabolites Transferred from Sperm to Oocyte During Fertilization
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Stable Isotope In-Vivo Labeling for Mass-Spectrometry Identification of Paternal Metabolites Transferred from Sperm to Oocyte During Fertilization

Published on: June 17, 2025

In Vitro Sperm-Epididymosomes Interaction Immediately Before Fertilization Changes Sperm Fertility Potential.

Maíra Bianchi Rodrigues Alves1, Maria Alice de Almeida2, Ana Beatriz Bossois Moura2

  • 1Department of Pathology, Theriogenology and One Healthy, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil.

Andrology
|May 30, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cauda epididymosomes (epEVs) in bulls enhance sperm fertility. Incubation with epEVs improved in vitro fertilization, leading to higher blastocyst rates, suggesting epEVs positively modulate male fertility potential.

Keywords:
IVFembryoepididymisexosomesmiRNAspaternal contribution

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Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca2+-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm
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Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca2+-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm

Published on: March 1, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Extracellular Vesicles
  • Sperm Biology

Background:

  • Sperm gain fertility during epididymal maturation and are stored in the cauda epididymis.
  • Cauda epididymosomes (epEVs) may influence sperm fertility, but their role is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of cauda epididymosomes (epEVs) on sperm fertility potential in cattle.
  • To establish an optimal protocol for sperm-epEV interaction.

Main Methods:

  • Characterized bovine cauda epEVs for size, concentration, morphology, and markers.
  • Determined optimal epEVs/sperm ratio (1000:1) and incubation time (3 hours) for sperm-epEV interaction using flow cytometry.
  • Analyzed microRNA transfer from epEVs to sperm via qPCR.
  • Assessed the effect of sperm-epEV interaction on in vitro fertilization and subsequent blastocyst rates.

Main Results:

  • Bovine cauda epEVs were characterized with specific size, concentration, morphology, and markers (ALIX, CD-81, CD-63).
  • The optimal interaction protocol involved 1000 epEVs/sperm for 3 hours, leading to the detection of specific microRNAs (miR-935, miR-421) in sperm.
  • Sperm incubated with epEVs showed significantly higher blastocyst rates (38.9%) compared to controls (26.6%).

Conclusions:

  • In vitro incubation of sperm with cauda epididymosomes (epEVs) enhances male fertility potential.
  • EpEVs modulate the paternal contribution to embryo development, offering insights into controlling male fertility.
  • This study establishes a foundation for utilizing epEVs to improve assisted reproductive technologies.