EPIDIDYMAL MATURATION OF SPERM SIGNALING PATHWAYS

首席调查员和外国合作者的长期目标 是为了了解精子受精能力的分子基础。《少年派》 专注于研究潜在的信号转导机制 精子获能，这需要一个成熟过程，发生在 他们在附睾部的中转。这位外国调查员研究了 附睾成熟的生物化学和细胞生物学。加在一起，这些 研究人员已经证明了信号的明显成熟。 与附睾成熟并行的转导机制。的目标是 这项建议是为了1)确定精子附睾转运是否 与血清白蛋白反应引起的胆固醇流出改变有关 和在体外结合胆固醇的β-环糊精，2)决定 附睾成熟调节精子反应的机制 Db-cAMP导致蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化；3)测定 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 与男性不育症和避孕有关。

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.