精液质量是反映男性生殖健康最基本和最重要的指标。哺乳动物的精子需在附睾中经历一系列复杂的结构与功能的变化才能成熟并具有潜在受精能力。精子成熟是由大量转录因子、激素等信号分子协同调控的复杂生理过程。近年来越来越多的证据表明附睾小体(epididymosomes)中的功能蛋白和sRNAs(small RNAs)可参与调节精子成熟及受精等过程。本文主要综述了附睾小体中功能蛋白及两类主要的sRNAs(tRNAs和miRNAs)的生物学作用,以期为男性不育等疾病的治疗提供一定的理论指导和新的治疗思路。

The semen quality is a basic and the most important indicator of male reproductive health. Mammalian spermatozoa undergo a series of complex structural and functional changes in the epididymis to mature and achieve fertilization capacity. Sperm cell maturation is mediated by a complex physiological process, which is synergistically regulated by a large number of transcription factors, hormones and other signaling molecules. In recent years, there is increasing evidence supporting the notion that functional proteins and sRNA (small RNAs) in epididymosomes participate in sperm maturation and fertilization process. In this review, we summarize the biological roles of functional proteins and two major sRNAs (tRNAs and miRNAs) in sperm maturation in epididymosomes, and provide some theoretical guidance and new ideas for treatments of low fertility, infertility and other reproductive diseases in men.