摘要
The epididymis is essential for sperm development and maturation, and, subsequently, the ability of spermatozoa to penetrate and fertilize the female gamete. Functional differences in segments of the long tubule are reflected by histological differences among epididymal regions. The feline epididymis can be divided into six different regions according to their histological differences. A marked increase in sperm concentration occurs between regions 2 and 3, indicating resorption of fluid in region 2, a concept supported by the histological characteristics of the epithelium. At the transition between regions 4 and 5, located between the caput and corpus epididymides, histological characteristics change from being that of a maturation function to being typical of a storage function. Migration of the cytoplasmic droplet and induction of motility occur in this same region. Proteins are secreted from epithelial cells in the feline epididymis by merocrine and apocrine secretion, although the functions of different feline epididymal proteins have not been determined. Hypotaurine, taurine and, probably, alkaline phosphatase are produced by the feline epididymis. During epididymal transit the percentage of immature, unviable and morphologically abnormal spermatozoa decreases, indicating the existence of a mechanism that removes abnormal spermatozoa. In contrast, the percentage of spermatozoa with abnormal tails increases slightly during epididymal transit. Most of the distal droplets present on spermatozoa in the cauda epididymis are lost at or after ejaculation. Additional knowledge of the feline epididymis should be beneficial for developing sperm preservation protocols and advance the prospects for effective male contraceptive methods.
摘要译文
附睾是精子发育和成熟所必需的，随后，精子能够穿透和施肥雌性配子。长细管节段的功能差异反映在附睾区域之间的组织学差异。根据其组织学差异可将猫附睾分为6个不同的区域。精子浓度显着增加发生在2区和3区之间，表明区域2中的液体的再吸收，这是由上皮的组织学特征支持的概念。在区域4和5之间的过渡期间，位于头部和附睾之间，组织学特征从成熟功能变为典型的储存功能。细胞质液滴的迁移和运动的诱导发生在这个相同的区域。蛋白质由猫科动物附睾中的上皮细胞通过分泌和分泌顶泌细胞分泌，虽然不同的猫科附睾蛋白的功能尚未确定。牛磺酸，牛磺酸以及可能的碱性磷酸酶是由猫科动物附睾产生的。在附睾运输过程中，未成熟，不可行和形态异常的精子百分比降低，表明存在一种去除异常精子的机制。相反，在附睾运输期间，具有异常尾部的精子百分比略微增加。射精时或射精后，大多数存在于附睾尾部精子上的远端液滴都会丢失。额外的猫科附睾知识应该有利于发展精子保存方案，并推动有效的男性避孕方法的前景。
EvaAxnér;. Sperm maturation in the domestic cat[J]. Theriogenology, 2006,66(1): 14-24