The impact of epididymal proteins on sperm function

Abstract

The epididymis is necessary for post-testicular sperm maturation as it provides the milieu required for spermatozoa to gain the ability for progressive movement and fertilization. In the epididymis the sperm protein, lipid and small RNA content are heavily modified due to interaction with luminal proteins secreted by the epididymal epithelium and extracellular vesicles, epididymosomes. This review focuses on epididymal proteins demonstrated to have an effect on sperm functions, such as motility, capacitation, acrosome reaction, sperm-zona pellucida binding and sperm-egg binding, as well as on embryonic development.