Seminal vesicle protein SVS2 is required for sperm survival in the uterus

摘要: In mammals, sperm migrate through the female reproductive tract to reach egg; however, our understanding of this journey is highly limited. To shed light on process, we focused defining functions seminal vesicle secretion 2 (SVS2). SVS2−/− male mice produced but were severely subfertile, and formation a copulatory plug cover genital opening did not occur. Surprisingly, even when artificial insemination was performed with silicon as substitute for plug, fertility in absence SVS2 remained reduced because already dead uterus. Thus, results provide evidence that uterus induces cell death protects from uterine attack.