Participation of apoptotic markers in the process of maturation and elimination of spermatozoa in the epididymis of the Corynorhinus mexicanus bat.

The Corynorhinus mexicanus bat is characterized by a specific form of reproductive asynchrony between males and females. After mating, some sperm remain in the male's epididymis, the organ where the sperm had matured. It has not yet been determined if apoptotic markers participate in the process of the maturation and/or elimination of these cells, so studying this topic is essential for our understanding of this species.

Sperm calcium flux and membrane potential hyperpolarization observed in the Mexican big-eared bat Corynorhinus mexicanus.

Mammalian sperm capacitation involves biochemical and physiological changes, such as an increase in intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i), hyperpolarization of the plasma membrane potential and sperm hyperactivation, among others. These changes provide sperm with the ability to fertilize. In the bat Corynorhinus mexicanus, there is an asynchrony between spermatogenesis and sperm storage in the male with the receptivity of the female.

Sperm Dysfunction in the Testes and Epididymides due to Overweight and Obesity Is Not Caused by Oxidative Stress.

Obesity is a condition that has been linked to male infertility. The current hypothesis regarding the cause of infertility is that sperm are highly sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS) during spermatogenesis in the testes and transit through the epididymides, so the increase in ROS brought on by obesity could cause oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the activity of the enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) is capable of counteracting oxidative stress in sperm.

Alterations in epididymal sperm maturation caused by ageing.

The epididymis is an organ that performs all the biochemical changes responsible for sperm maturation. During ageing, histological alterations in the epididymis and decreased protein synthesis have been found. This might affect the sperm maturation process.

Reactive oxygen species production and antioxidant enzyme activity during epididymal sperm maturation in Corynorhinus mexicanus bats.

Prolonged sperm storage in the epididymis of Corynorhinus mexicanus bats after testicular regression has been associated with epididymal sperm maturation in the caudal region, although the precise factors linked with this phenomenon are unknown. The aim of this work is to determine the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and changes in antioxidant enzymatic activity occurring in the spermatozoa and epididymal fluid over time, in sperm maturation and storage in the caput, corpus and cauda of the bat epididymis. Our data showed that an increment in ROS production coincided with an increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in epididymal fluid and with a decrease in glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity in the spermatozoa in at different time points and epididymal regions.