Aquaporins in the epididymis

DOI
  • Tajiri Syouta
    Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kumamoto University
  • Fukui Tatsuya
    Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kumamoto University
  • Yoshinaga Kazuya
    Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kumamoto University Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kumamoto University

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 精巣上体のアクアポリン

Search this article

Abstract

Spermatozoa acquire the capacity to fertilize the ovum and display motility during their passage through the epididymis. The epididymal duct, a long convoluted tubule with very active absorption and secretory functions, which is divided into three major regions: the proximal (caput), the middle (corpus), and the distal (cauda) epididymis. The composition of the luminal environment in the epididymis is tightly regulated and plays an important role in male fertility by providing functions, including maturation, concentration, transport, and storage of spermatozoa. Aquaporins are a family of integral membrane proteins that transport water, glycerol, urea and ions. They are abundantly expressed in many tissues, including the kidney, the brain, the eye and the respiratory tract. The present review focuses on the distribution and function of aquaporins in the epididymis.

Journal

  • Structure and Function

    Structure and Function 10 (2), 60-64, 2012

    Co-medical Research Society of Structure and Function

Related Projects

See more

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top