Andrology-Open Access
Open Access
ISSN: 2167-0250
ISSN: 2167-0250
Department of Pharmacy and Science of Health and Nutrition, University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy
Review Article
Recent advances in the human male gamete: focus on testicular varicocele
Author(s): Adele Vivacqua, Giuseppina Peluso, Marco Serrao, Lidia Urlandini, Mattia Saporito, Helena Adamo, Vittoria Rago and Saveria Aquila*
From the XVII century, sperm has been studied for its function in fertilization and its unique cell characteristics. Successively, the new innovative techniques rendered possible to clarify, at last in part, the organization and structure of the male gamete, however, it remains to clarify the composition at molecular level and the mechanisms through which it regulates its functions. Previous studies have been mainly focused on morphological and biochemical changes related to the processes of capacitation and acrosome reaction. It is interesting to note that the human sperm during his life goes through two stages of development: the first in the male genital tract, where it acquires the morpho-anatomical maturation; the second in the female genital tract, where it acquires the functional maturation during the capacitation process which prepare the gamete to the acrosome reaction. Our s.. View More»