Applying Electron Microscopy to Characterize the Human Epididymis Collected in vivo

The epididymis is a long convoluted tubule that serves as a conduit for the transport of spermatozoa from the testis to the vas deferens and is the site where spermatozoa mature and acquire their functions of progressive motility and fertility. Unfortunately, very little is known about the human epi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Microscopy and microanalysis 2012-08, Vol.18 (S5), p.35-36
Main Authors: Silva, J. V., Luers, G., Patrício, A., Maia, N., Silva, O. A. B. da Cruz e, Fardilha, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Fertility
Life Sciences
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The epididymis is a long convoluted tubule that serves as a conduit for the transport of spermatozoa from the testis to the vas deferens and is the site where spermatozoa mature and acquire their functions of progressive motility and fertility. Unfortunately, very little is known about the human epididymis and its role in sperm maturation owing to the lack of studies conducted on normal human tissue. The role of epididymal luminal microenvironment and the mechanisms that epididymis uses to carry out its functions remain unsolved.
ISSN:1431-9276
1435-8115
DOI:10.1017/S1431927612012834