Dynamic elementomics of single-cell ICP-MS-derived signals in normal and calcium pump PMCA4-deficient mouse epididymal sperm during capacitation.

Currently, clinical analysis of male infertility mainly relies on parameters of semen and sperm cells. However, the high diagnostic failure rates indicate that the current assessment methods are not sufficient and a new approach to evaluating sperm function still needs to be developed. Here we explored the feasibility of single-cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (sc-ICP-MS)-derived profiles to determine the elemental characteristics in viable capacitated sperm under normal and deficient conditions.

Corrigendum: Calcium homeostasis in the epididymal microenvironment: c.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.

Calcium Homeostasis in the Epididymal Microenvironment: C.

In the male reproductive tract, the epididymis is an essential organ for sperm maturation, in which sperm cells acquire mobility and the ability to fertilize oocytes while being stored in a protective microenvironment. Epididymal function involves a specialized luminal microenvironment established by the epithelial cells of epididymal mucosa. Low-calcium concentration is a unique feature of this epididymal luminal microenvironment, its relevance and regulation are, however, incompletely understood.

Soft tissue image reconstruction using cone-beam computed tomography combined with laser scanning: a novel method to evaluate the masticatory mucosa.

Objective: To construct a 3-D model of the masticatory mucosa to measure the thickness of the facial/lingual gingiva and palatal mucosa.

Study Design: Maxillofacial regions of 8 volunteers were scanned using cone-beam computed tomography to generate 3-D maxillary and mandibular models. Digital models were obtained by laser scanning of the impressions.