Understanding the Molecular Basis of Epididymal Maturation: How Does the Epididymis Modify Spermatozoa, Allowing them to Recognise the Egg ?

男性不育症是一个严重的临床问题，每20名澳大利亚男性中就有1人患有不育症。这种情况的一个共同特征是精子无法识别卵子。精子在通过一个叫做附睾的器官时获得这种特性。我们已经培育出了一种特殊的附睾缺陷的转基因小鼠，这种缺陷会阻止精子和卵子的识别。这项研究将检查这些缺陷精子的结构，以产生对精卵相互作用的分子基础的新见解。

Male infertility is a significant clinical problem affecting one in twenty Australian men. A common feature of this condition is the sperm’s inability to recognize the egg. Sperm gain this property as they transit an organ known as the epididymis. We have produced genetically modified mice with a specific epididymal defect that prevents sperm-egg recognition. This study will examine the structure of these defective sperm to generate new insights into the molecular basis of sperm-egg interaction.