Effect of immunization against prostate- and testis-expressed (PATE) proteins on sperm function and fecundity in the rat

The immature and non-motile spermatozoa produced in the testis undergo maturation when they pass through the epididymis. Sperm maturation is facilitated by a number of proteins secreted by the epididymal epithelial cells into the luminal fluid, which then bind on to the sperm surface (Ducheux et al., 2003). Defensins (Yenugu et al., 2004, 2006, Travis et al., 2000), members of the sperm-associated antigen 11 family (Hamil et al., 2000), lysozymes (Zhang et al., 2005, Mandal et al., 2003), lipocalins (Hamil et al., 2003), cathelicidins, protease inhibitors (Hamil et al., 2002, Blankenvoorde et al., 1998, Hiemstra et al., 1996), inhibitors of complement lysis (Collard and Griswold, 1987, Griswold et al., 1986), the cysteine-rich proteins such as CRISPs (Jalkanen et al., 2005, Luo et al., 2012), and members of the prostate- and testis-expressed (PATE) family (Bera et al., 2002, Soler-Garcia et al., 2005, Levitin et al., 2008, Turunen et al., 2011) are some examples of a wide range of proteins that bind to the sperm surface (Hall et al., 2002).

Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - April 9, 2015 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Angireddy Rajesh, Suresh Yenugu Source Type: research