EPIDIDYMAL MATURATION OF SPERM SIGNALING PATHWAYS

主要研究者和外国合作者的长期目标 是了解精子受精能力的分子基础。的PI 他专注于研究信号转导机制， 精子获能，这需要一个成熟过程， 它们通过附睾的过程外国调查员研究了 附睾成熟的生物化学和细胞生物学。所有这些 研究人员已经证明了信号的明显成熟 与附睾成熟平行的转导机制。的目的 该建议是：1）确定精子附睾转运是否 与血清白蛋白引起的胆固醇流出改变相关 和β-环糊精，体外结合胆固醇的试剂，2）确定 附睾成熟调节精子反应的机制 导致蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化，和3）确定 附睾环境的氧化状态是否会影响 调节精子的信号转导机制的成熟 获能这些实验的结果可能有助于理解 附睾成熟及其在受精能力中的作用， 与男性不育和避孕有关。

The long-term goals of the Principal Investigator and the Foreign Collaborator are to understand the molecular basis of sperm fertilization competence. The PI has focused in his research on the signal transduction mechanisms underlying sperm capacitation, which requires a maturation process that occurs during their transit through the epididymis. The foreign investigator has studied the biochemistry and cell biology of epididymal maturation. Together, these investigators have demonstrated an apparent maturation of the signal transduction mechanisms in parallel with epididymal maturation. The aims of this proposal are to 1) determine whether sperm epididymal transit is associated with alteration of cholesterol efflux in response to serum albumin and beta cyclodextrins, agents that bind cholesterol in vitro, 2) determine the mechanisms by which epididymal maturation regulates the response of the sperm to db-cAMP leading to protein tyrosine phosphorylation, and 3) determine whether the oxidation state of the epididymal environment can influence the maturation of the signal transduction machinery that regulates sperm capacitation. The results of these experiments may aid in the understanding of epididymal maturation and its role in fertilization competence, which may relevant to both male infertility and contraception.