Journal
REPRODUCTION FERTILITY AND DEVELOPMENT
Volume 26, Issue 6, Pages 769-777Publisher
CSIRO PUBLISHING
DOI: 10.1071/RD13153
Keywords
BBD126; epididymis; fertility; immune response
Categories
Funding
- Department of Agriculture and Food [RSF/06340]
- Health Research Board [RP/2008/189]
- SFI [11/RFP/GEN/3043]
- Health Research Board (HRB) [RP-2008-189] Funding Source: Health Research Board (HRB)
Ask authors/readers for more resources
beta-defensins are effector molecules of the innate immune system, found in many diverse species. Their presence in invertebrates as well as vertebrates suggests highly conserved functional roles. Most beta-defensins are believed to act as antimicrobial agents at epithelial surfaces, although additional functions have also been described, including immune regulatory activity, wound repair and a role in coat-colour determination. High expression of beta-defensins have been found in testis and epididymidal epithelium as well as in the seminal fluid of humans, macaque, rat, mouse and cow. Human and macaque beta-defensins have recently been shown to affect sperm motility while a mutation in beta-defensin 126 is associated with reduced fertility in men. Genetic variation in bovine defensin genes may explain the increased incidence of low fertility in cattle. Here, we present a summary of the known functions of beta-defensins as well as their emerging role in reproduction and their potential to improve fertility in cattle.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available