Moore H D, Samayawardhena L A, Brewis I A
Department of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, UK.
J Reprod Fertil Suppl. 1998;53:23-31.
Sperm maturation involves an intimate interaction between spermatozoa and the epididymal epithelium. Aspects of this relationship can be examined by co-incubating epididymal spermatozoa with epididymal epithelium in vitro. Plaques of epididymal epithelium from a variety of species (for example rodents, dogs, humans) can be maintained in culture medium supplemented with growth factors and androgens. When co-incubated with these epithelial cultures, immature epididymal spermatozoa undergo maturation changes that lead to the acquisition of progressive motility, zona binding and, in some instances, fertilizing capacity in vitro. The use of such co-culture techniques for the understanding of sperm maturation in vitro and in vivo is reviewed with reference to recent experiments.
精子成熟涉及精子与附睾上皮之间的密切相互作用。这种关系的各个方面可以通过在体外将附睾精子与附睾上皮共同孵育来进行研究。来自多种物种（例如啮齿动物、狗、人类）的附睾上皮斑块可以在补充了生长因子和雄激素的培养基中维持培养。当与这些上皮培养物共同孵育时，未成熟的附睾精子会发生成熟变化，从而获得渐进性运动能力、与透明带结合的能力，在某些情况下还能在体外获得受精能力。结合最近的实验，对使用这种共培养技术来理解体外和体内精子成熟的情况进行了综述。
