Vinay Ludovic, Hess Rex A, Belleannée Clémence
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction, Université Laval, CHU de Québec Research Center (CHUL), Quebec City, Canada.
Centre de recherche en Reproduction, Développement et Santé Intergénérationnelle, Quebec City, Canada.
Andrology. 2025 May;13(4):894-910. doi: 10.1111/andr.13732. Epub 2024 Aug 30.
Previous research has illustrated the role of cilia as mechanical and sensory antennae in various organs within the mammalian male reproductive system across different developmental stages. Despite their significance in both organ development and homeostasis, primary cilia in the human male reproductive excurrent duct have been overlooked due to limited access to human specimens.
This study aimed to characterize the unique cellular composition of human efferent and epididymal ducts, with a focus on their association with primary cilia.
Human efferent ductules/epididymides from five donors aged 32-47 years, were obtained through our local organ transplant program. Cell lineage specificity and primary cilia features were examined by immunofluorescent staining and confocal microscopy in the efferent ductules and the distinct segments of the epididymis.
The epithelium of the human efferent duct exhibited estrogen receptor-positive cells with primary cilia, FoxJ1-positive multiciliated cells with numerous motile cilia, and non-ciliated intraepithelial immune cells. Notably, intraluminal macrophages, identified by CD163/CD68 positivity, were observed to engage in sperm phagocytosis. In all three segments of the human epididymis, primary cilia were found on the surface of principal and basal cells.
Our research indicates that the human efferent ductules create a distinct environment, characterized by the presence of two types of ciliated cells that are in contact with immune cells. The discovery of sensory primary cilia exposed on the surface of reabsorptive cells in the efferent ductules, as well as on basal and principal cells in the epididymis, lays the foundation for complementary functional studies. This research uncovers novel characteristics exclusive to human efferent ductules and epididymides, providing a basis for exploring innovative approaches to male contraception and infertility treatment.
先前的研究已经阐明了纤毛在哺乳动物雄性生殖系统不同发育阶段的各个器官中作为机械和感觉触角的作用。尽管它们在器官发育和体内平衡中都具有重要意义，但由于获取人类标本的机会有限，人类男性生殖输出管中的初级纤毛一直被忽视。
本研究旨在表征人类输出小管和附睾的独特细胞组成，重点关注它们与初级纤毛的关联。
通过我们当地的器官移植项目获得了5名年龄在32 - 47岁之间供体的人类输出小管/附睾。通过免疫荧光染色和共聚焦显微镜检查输出小管和附睾不同节段的细胞谱系特异性和初级纤毛特征。
人类输出管的上皮表现出带有初级纤毛的雌激素受体阳性细胞、带有众多运动纤毛的FoxJ1阳性多纤毛细胞以及非纤毛上皮内免疫细胞。值得注意的是，观察到由CD163/CD68阳性鉴定的管腔内巨噬细胞参与精子吞噬作用。在人类附睾的所有三个节段中，在主细胞和基底细胞表面均发现了初级纤毛。
我们的研究表明，人类输出小管创造了一个独特的环境，其特征是存在两种与免疫细胞接触的纤毛细胞。在输出小管的重吸收细胞表面以及附睾的基底细胞和主细胞表面发现感觉初级纤毛，为补充功能研究奠定了基础。这项研究揭示了人类输出小管和附睾独有的新特征，为探索男性避孕和不育治疗的创新方法提供了依据。
