The extracellular vesicle tetraspanin CD63 journey from the testis through the epididymis to mature bull sperm.

The important role of extracellular vesicles, which are considered key mediators of intercellular communication under physiological and pathological conditions, in various cellular processes, including those crucial for mammalian reproduction, has been increasingly studied. Tetraspanins, including CD63, are widely used as markers of extracellular vesicles, but they may also play a role in their biogenesis, cargo selection, cell targeting, and uptake. This study aimed to map the journey of the extracellular vesicle protein tetraspanin CD63 from the testis through the epididymis into mature bull sperm via an approach that included immunohistochemistry (immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase staining), Western blot analysis, and immunoprecipitation analysis.

Complexity and modification of the bull sperm glycocalyx during epididymal maturation.

Mammalian spermatozoa have a surface covered with glycocalyx, consisting of heterogeneous glycoproteins and glycolipids. This complexity arises from diverse monosaccharides, distinct linkages, various isomeric glycans, branching levels, and saccharide sequences. The glycocalyx is synthesized by spermatozoa developing in the testis, and its subsequent alterations during their transit through the epididymis are a critical process for the sperm acquisition of fertilizing ability.

Perception of Work-Related Stress and Quality of Life among Nurses during COVID-19 Pandemic-An International, Multicenter Prospective Study.

The major focus of the study was the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers' mental health. Nurses are the workers who were exposed to pandemic-related stress, being the most affected. The present cross-sectional study was focused on finding out the differences of the level of work-related stress and quality of life in nurses of the three Central European states, specifically the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, and Poland.

Expression of αV integrin and its potential partners in bull reproductive tissues, germ cells and spermatozoa.

Integrins are transmembrane receptors expressed in all nucleated mammalian cells, critically involved in cell-matrix adhesion and cell-cell interactions that modulate many signalling cascades. It is assumed that integrins also provide essential functions of the reproductive system. In this study, we describe the detailed localization and distribution of αV integrin in the plasma membrane of bull sperm head and tail.