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International Journal of Molecular... Jul 2020It is well-established that testicular spermatozoa are immature and acquire motility and fertilization capabilities during transit throughout the epididymis. The... (Review)
Review
It is well-established that testicular spermatozoa are immature and acquire motility and fertilization capabilities during transit throughout the epididymis. The epididymis is a duct-like organ that connects the testis to the vas deferens and is comprised of four anatomical regions: the initial segment, caput, corpus, and cauda. Sperm maturation occurs during epididymal transit by the interaction of sperm cells with the unique luminal environment of each epididymal region. In this review we discuss the epididymis as an essential reproductive organ responsible for sperm concentration, maturation (including sperm motility acquisition and fertilizing ability), protection and storage. Importantly, we also discuss specific characteristics and roles of epididymal-derived exosomes (epididymosomes) in establishing sperm competency within the intricate process of reproduction. This review suggests that an increasing body of evidence is working to develop a complete picture of the role of the epididymis in male reproduction, offspring health, and disease susceptibility.
Topics: Animals; Epididymis; Epigenesis, Genetic; Exosomes; Female; Fertilization; Humans; Inheritance Patterns; Male; Mice; Oocytes; Reproduction; Sperm Maturation; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa; Testis; Vas Deferens
PubMed: 32751076
DOI: 10.3390/ijms21155377 -
Purinergic Signalling Dec 2022Within the family of purinergic receptors, the P2X1 receptor is a ligand-gated ion channel that plays a role in urogenital, immune and cardiovascular function.... (Review)
Review
Within the family of purinergic receptors, the P2X1 receptor is a ligand-gated ion channel that plays a role in urogenital, immune and cardiovascular function. Specifically, the P2X1 receptor has been implicated in controlling smooth muscle contractions of the vas deferens and therefore has emerged as an exciting drug target for male contraception. In addition, the P2X1 receptor contributes to smooth muscle contractions of the bladder and is a target to treat bladder dysfunction. Finally, platelets and neutrophils have populations of P2X1 receptors that could be targeted for thrombosis and inflammatory conditions. Drugs that specifically target the P2X1 receptor have been challenging to develop, and only recently have small molecule antagonists of the P2X1 receptor been available. However, these ligands need further biological validation for appropriate selectivity and drug-like properties before they will be suitable for use in preclinical models of disease. Although the atomic structure of the P2X1 receptor has yet to be determined, the recent discovery of several other P2X receptor structures and improvements in the field of structural biology suggests that this is now a distinct possibility. Such efforts may significantly improve drug discovery efforts at the P2X1 receptor.
Topics: Male; Humans; Receptors, Purinergic P2X1; Urinary Bladder; Muscle Contraction; Vas Deferens; Blood Platelets; Receptors, Purinergic P2X; Adenosine Triphosphate
PubMed: 35821454
DOI: 10.1007/s11302-022-09880-4 -
Journal of Experimental Neuroscience 2019As in other excitable tissues, two classes of electrical signals are of fundamental importance to the functioning of smooth muscles: junction potentials, which arise... (Review)
Review
As in other excitable tissues, two classes of electrical signals are of fundamental importance to the functioning of smooth muscles: junction potentials, which arise from neurotransmission and represent the initiation of excitation (or in some instances inhibition) of the tissue, and spikes or action potentials, which represent the accomplishment of excitation and lead on to contractile activity. Unlike the case in skeletal muscle and in neurons, junction potentials and spikes in smooth muscle have been poorly understood in relation to the electrical properties of the tissue and in terms of their spatiotemporal spread within it. This owes principally to the experimental difficulties involved in making precise electrical recordings from smooth muscles and also to two inherent features of this class of muscle, ie, the syncytial organization of its cells and the distributed innervation they receive, which renders their biophysical analysis problematic. In this review, we outline the development of hypotheses and knowledge on junction potentials and spikes in syncytial smooth muscle, showing how our concepts have frequently undergone radical changes and how recent developments hold promise in unraveling some of the many puzzles that remain. We focus especially on computational models and signal analysis approaches. We take as illustrative examples the smooth muscles of two organs with distinct functional characteristics, the vas deferens and urinary bladder, while also touching on features of electrical functioning in the smooth muscles of other organs.
PubMed: 30733629
DOI: 10.1177/1179069518821917 -
Journal of Visualized Experiments : JoVE Jun 2022Microsurgical vasoepididymostomy (MVE) is the main surgical treatment for epididymal obstruction. The vasal vessels are ligated during MVE. However, preserving the vasal...
Microsurgical vasoepididymostomy (MVE) is the main surgical treatment for epididymal obstruction. The vasal vessels are ligated during MVE. However, preserving the vasal vessels during MVE might better simulate the normal physiological structure and be meaningful for patients who have undergone varicocelectomy. Nevertheless, preserving the vasal vessels might elevate the risk of increasing the tension of anastomosis, affecting the patency rate and leading to delayed postoperative bleeding. Therefore, we developed a novel vessel-sparing MVE to make it safer. Here is a summary of the improvements to the procedure. 1) The retrograde dissociation of the vasal vessels on the proximal testicular side was adopted as the main method, and the anterograde dissociation of the vasal vessels on the distal testicular side was adopted as a supplement to dissociate the vasal vessels to be preserved. This improvement ensures the blood supply to the vas deferens that will be used for anastomosis and also provides longer vasal vessels, which reduces the tension of anastomosis. 2) By fixing the vas deferens to be anastomosed and the broken end of the vas deferens, the free vasal vessels get fixed, which resolves the problem of transmission of vas tension to the vasal vessels and reduces the risk of vasal vessel hemorrhage. 3) Dissociation of the vas deferens after opening the tunica vaginalis increases the mobilization of the vas deferens, which also makes the new procedure easier to complete. The evaluation of the outcomes of this new procedure showed that no significant postoperative complications occurred in the patients, and the patency rate was no different from that of the conventional procedure. Therefore, this new, improved procedure can be considered safe, with satisfactory postoperative results.
Topics: Anastomosis, Surgical; Epididymis; Humans; Male; Microsurgery; Postoperative Complications; Testis; Vas Deferens
PubMed: 35758706
DOI: 10.3791/63894 -
Frontiers in Genetics 2022Congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD) is clinically characterized by the absence of the bilateral vas deferens; the main clinical manifestation is... (Review)
Review
Congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD) is clinically characterized by the absence of the bilateral vas deferens; the main clinical manifestation is infertility, accounting for 1-2% of male infertility cases. CBAVD may be accompanied by congenital abnormalities in the urogenital system and cystic fibrosis (CF)-related clinical manifestations. CBAVD can develop as a mild manifestation of CF or can be isolated. The main pathogenic mechanism of CBAVD is gene mutation, and CBAVD and CF have a common genetic mutation background. CFTR mutation is the main pathogenic cause of CBAVD and CF, and ADGRG2 mutation is the second most common cause. Although lack of the vas deferens in CBAVD patients causes infertility due to the inability to release sperm, the testes of CBAVD patients have spermatogenic function. Therefore, CBAVD patients can achieve fertility through sperm retrieval surgery and assisted reproductive technology (ART). However, gene mutations in CBAVD patients can have an impact on the ART outcome, and there is a risk of passing on gene mutations to offspring. For CBAVD patients and their spouses, performing genetic counseling (which currently refers mainly to CFTR mutation screening) helps to reduce the risks of genetic mutations being passed on to offspring and of offspring having CF with concomitant CBAVD.
PubMed: 35222530
DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.775123 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2022Purinergic receptors are ubiquitously expressed throughout the body and they participate in the autocrine and paracrine regulation of cell function during normal... (Review)
Review
Purinergic receptors are ubiquitously expressed throughout the body and they participate in the autocrine and paracrine regulation of cell function during normal physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Extracellular nucleotides activate several types of plasma membrane purinergic receptors that form three distinct families: P1 receptors are activated by adenosine, P2X receptors are activated by ATP, and P2Y receptors are activated by nucleotides including ATP, ADP, UTP, UDP, and UDP-glucose. These specific pharmacological fingerprints and the distinct intracellular signaling pathways they trigger govern a large variety of cellular responses in an organ-specific manner. As such, purinergic signaling regulates several physiological cell functions, including cell proliferation, differentiation and death, smooth muscle contraction, vasodilatation, and transepithelial transport of water, solute, and protons, as well as pathological pathways such as inflammation. While purinergic signaling was first discovered more than 90 years ago, we are just starting to understand how deleterious signals mediated through purinergic receptors may be involved in male infertility. A large fraction of male infertility remains unexplained illustrating our poor understanding of male reproductive health. Purinergic signaling plays a variety of physiological and pathophysiological roles in the male reproductive system, but our knowledge in this context remains limited. This review focuses on the distribution of purinergic receptors in the testis, epididymis, and vas deferens, and their role in the establishment and maintenance of male fertility.
Topics: Humans; Male; Testis; Infertility, Male; Nucleotides; Adenosine Triphosphate; Uridine Diphosphate
PubMed: 36419764
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1049511 -
Ultrasound Quarterly Sep 2022The extrapelvic portion of the vas deferens is readily visible with ultrasound but often overlooked. Several publications have described the scanning technique and the...
The extrapelvic portion of the vas deferens is readily visible with ultrasound but often overlooked. Several publications have described the scanning technique and the normal anatomy of the vas deferens. Sonographic evaluation of the vas deferens provides critical information in the workup of male infertility. Obstruction, inflammatory conditions, and neoplasms of the vas deferens can also be diagnosed with ultrasound. Knowledge of the normal and abnormal appearance of the vas deferens improves scans of the scrotum and expands the conditions that can be recognized and accurately diagnosed with ultrasound.
Topics: Humans; Male; Pelvis; Scrotum; Ultrasonography; Vas Deferens
PubMed: 35129151
DOI: 10.1097/RUQ.0000000000000588 -
The Canadian Journal of Urology Feb 2015Calcification of the vas deferens and seminal vesicles is a rare condition of unknown incidence. It has been described in association with diabetes, hyperparathyroidism... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Calcification of the vas deferens and seminal vesicles is a rare condition of unknown incidence. It has been described in association with diabetes, hyperparathyroidism and genitourinary tuberculosis, amongst other conditions. Little is known about the clinical significance and management of this condition. We review the literature in an effort to find answers about an entity that is frequently appreciated as an incidental finding.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
An electronic database search was performed (Medline) using the key words: vas deferens; seminal vesicles; calcification, alone or in combination. Articles were selected according to relevance and quality of evidence.
RESULTS
The search included published manuscripts between 1960 and 2012. A total of 17 relevant publications were identified. The majority were written in the English language and mostly consisted of case presentations and reports of radiologic findings.
CONCLUSION
Calcification of the vas deferens and seminal vesicles is a rare condition. However, it may be implicated in male factor infertility and symptoms from the urogenital tract. Treatment should be directed towards the underlying cause on an individual basis. It is unknown whether control of the primary process has any effects on the histopathological appearance of the ducts and/or their improvement of function.
Topics: Calcinosis; Humans; Male; Male Urogenital Diseases; Radiography; Seminal Vesicles; Vas Deferens
PubMed: 25694005
DOI: No ID Found -
Urology Video Journal Sep 2021To document a step-by-step guide of crossed transeptal vasoepididymostomy with prioritization of crossover vas deferens measurement.
OBJECTIVE
To document a step-by-step guide of crossed transeptal vasoepididymostomy with prioritization of crossover vas deferens measurement.
DESIGN
Video presentation.
SETTING
University of Miami Lennar Surgical Center.
PATIENTS
The patient undergoing this procedure signed a written, informed consent for video and audio recording.
RESULTS
No intraoperative complications were seen during the surgery, and the patient was discharged 6 h after the procedure. Through the steps detailed in the video and manuscript, a proper tubule into vas deferens invagination was formed.
CONCLUSIONS
Anatomical indications for crossed vasoepididymostomy exists in 6% of azoospermic males and procedural prevalence is increasing. With a standardized step-by-step procedural approach that prioritizes crossover vas deferens measurement, crossed vasoepididymostomy can be considered in couples desiring natural conception, with previous complications of ART or failed ART.
PubMed: 34296077
DOI: 10.1016/j.urolvj.2021.100090 -
Asian Journal of Andrology 2022
Topics: Azoospermia; Humans; Male; Vas Deferens; Vasectomy
PubMed: 31621656
DOI: 10.4103/aja.aja_113_19