An epididymis-specific carboxyl esterase CES5A is required for sperm capacitation and male fertility in the rat
Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: Despite the fact that the phenomenon of capacitation was discovered over half century ago and much progress has been made in identifying sperm events involved in capacitation, few specific molecules of epididymal origin have been identified as being directly involved in this process in vivo . Previously, our group cloned and characterized a carboxyl esterase gene Ces5a in the rat epididymis. The CES5A protein is mainly expressed in the corpus and cauda epididymidis and secreted into the corresponding lumens. Here, we report the function of CES5A in sperm maturation. By local injection of Lentivirus -mediated siRNA in the CES5A -expressing region of the rat epididymis, Ces5a -knockdown animal models were created. These animals exhibited an inhibited sperm capacitation and a reduction in male fertility. These results suggest that CES5A plays an important role in sperm maturation and male fertility.
Source: Asian Journal of Andrology
Institutions: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Language: English
Subfield: Reproductive Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $711
OpenAlex ID: W2067998485