Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20008, USA.
Adv Biol (Weinh). 2022 Jan;6(1):e2101066. doi: 10.1002/adbi.202101066. Epub 2021 Nov 23.
Sperm maturation during epididymal transit is a long and complex process. Although the roles of epididymal extracellular vesicles (EVs) on sperm quality have been extensively studied in recent years, there are still a lot of unexplored areas and too few species that are studied. The objective of this review is to focus on the contribution of epididymal EVs through the apocrine secretion of key factors, including proteins and small RNAs. Furthermore, the authors explore the alterations in the content of these vesicles related to male fertility and the effects of environmental stressors, and how these factors vary across taxa. Last, potential applications are covered, and the next steps in that field of research are highlighted.
精子在附睾中的成熟是一个漫长而复杂的过程。尽管近年来人们广泛研究了附睾细胞外囊泡（EVs）对精子质量的作用，但仍有许多未知领域，且研究的物种也很少。本文的目的是重点研究附睾 EVs 通过顶浆分泌关键因子（包括蛋白质和小 RNA）的作用。此外，作者还探讨了与男性生育能力相关的这些囊泡内容物的变化，以及环境应激因素的影响，以及这些因素在不同分类群中的差异。最后，还介绍了潜在的应用，并强调了该研究领域的下一步发展方向。
