Christelle Damon-Soubeyrand, Antonino Bongiovanni, Areski Chorfa, Chantal Goubely, Nelly Pirot, Luc Pardanaud, Laurence Piboin-Fragner, Caroline Vachias, Stephanie Bravard, Rachel Guiton, Jean-Leon Thomas, Fabrice Saez, Ayhan Kocer, Meryem Tardivel, Joël R Drevet, Joelle Henry-Berger
Long considered an accessory tubule of the male reproductive system, the epididymis is proving to be a key determinant of male fertility. In addition to its secretory role in ensuring functional maturation and survival of spermatozoa, the epididymis has a complex immune function. Indeed, it must manage both peripheral tolerance to sperm antigens foreign to the immune system and the protection of spermatozoa as well as the organ itself against pathogens ascending the epididymal tubule. Although our knowledge of the immunobiology of this organ is beginning to accumulate at the molecular and cellular levels, the organization of blood and lymphatic networks of this tissue, important players in the immune response, remains largely unknown...
June 13, 2023: ELife