Melatonin improves the ability of spermatozoa to bind with oocytes in the mouse.

Context And Aims: Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant regulating various biological functions, including alleviating male reproductive damage under pathological conditions. Here, we aim to analyse the effect of melatonin on normal male reproduction in mice.

Methods: Male mice received an intraperitoneal injection of melatonin (10mg/kg body weight) for 35 consecutive days.

Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) exposure induces sperm quality and functional defects in mice.

Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) harms mammalian testis development, yet the specific mechanism of its effect on sperm quality and function is unclear. In this study, male mice were administrated DEHP (200 mg/kg/day) via intragastric (i.g.

[Expression and biology identification of the human epididymis-specific gene ESC42 in E. coli].

Objective: To provide materials for the study of the function of ESC42 protein specifically expressed in the human epididymis.

Methods: The ESC42 gene was amplified from the human epididymis cDNA library by PCR and then cloned into prokaryotic expression vector pGEX-4T-1, expressed and purified by recombinant DNA techniques. The specificity of ESC42 protein was identified by Western blot and MALDI-TOF-MS.