The contribution of proteomics to understanding epididymal maturation of mammalian spermatozoa

Abstract

The acquisition of the ability of the male gamete to fertilize an ovum is the result of numerous and sequential steps of differentiation of spermatozoa that occur as they transit from the testis to the end of the epididymal tubule. The post gonadal sperm modifications are mostly related to motility, egg binding, and penetration processes. As the activity of the epididymis and its luminal fluid composition are believed to be directly related to 'sperm maturation', a review on epididymal proteins is presented. Comparative studies have shown that the epididymal activities are species specific. Nevertheless, for all mammalian species studied, similarities exist in the sequential proteomic changes of the luminal composition of the epididymal tubule and proteins on the sperm surface. The potential roles of these modifications are discussed.

Post-testicular sperm maturation and identification of an epididymal protein in the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

“…In mammals, sperm maturation involves structural modifications, changes in the lipid and protein composition of the plasmalemma (Jones 1989(Jones , 1998, and development of a characteristic pattern of motility (Morton et al 1978, Jones & Murdoch 1996. The maturation process requires proteins synthesized by the epididymal epithelium (Orgebin-Crist & Jahad 1978, Dacheux et al 2009, 2012 and the incorporation of these proteins into the sperm plasmalemma (Rankin et al 1992). Capacitation involves modification of the lipid composition and permeability of the sperm plasmalemma (Davis et al 1979, Davis 1981, loss of decapacitation factors (Fraser et al 1990, Gibbons et al 2005, Nixon et al 2006, and the initiation of complex signaling pathways (Visconti et al 1995a(Visconti et al , 1995b, which are routinely assessed by determining tyrosine phosphorylation of sperm proteins (Asquith et al 2004).…”

Comparative proteomic analysis of heat stress proteins associated with rat sperm maturation

“…Another two ROS-associated proteins, Sod1 and Txn, presented with upregulated expression levels, potentially implicating an epididymis response partly compensating for spermatozoa oxidative damage following heat stress. These proteins were associated with certain aspects of sperm maturation (20), and the association of their function with heat stress was further investigated. Another promising function group was the reproduction-associated proteins.…”

Preface

“…An essential aspect of this maturation is the close relationship of the sperm cell with the epididymal secretions which determine many aspects of the sperm cell physiology. The proteomic changes within the epididymal fluid are covered in detail in the review "The contribution of proteomics to understanding epididymal maturation of mammalian spermatozoa" [Dacheux et al 2012]. In fact, the interaction with the epididymal fluid results in important proteomic changes in the sperm cell and particularly in the cellular membrane.…”