Although there are numerous studies on bisphenol A (BPA) on the testis and spermatozoa, the effect of BPA on the physiological link between the testis and maturation of spermatozoa has not been studied. To provide an optimal environment (acidic pH) for sperm maturation in the epididymis, clear cells secrete protons and principal cells reabsorb bicarbonate and the secreted proton. Because of its crucial role in sperm maturation and fertility, functional changes in the epididymis following BPA exposure must be considered to fully understand the mechanisms of BPA on male fertility. Here, we identified the adverse effects of BPA exposure during puberty in male mice. CD-1 male mice were gavaged daily with vehicle (corn oil) and 50 mg BPA/kg-BW for 6 weeks. We determined the changes in epididymis, functional sperm parameters including motility, capacitation status, tyrosine phosphorylation, and fertility-related protein expression and in vitro and in vivo fertility rate following BPA exposure. Expression of vacuolar-type H + -ATPase is necessary for the secretion of protons by clear cells of the caput epididymis and was directly down-regulated following BPA exposure, while there were no changes in the other epithelial cell types in the epididymis. Also, pERK 1/2 signaling pathway was increased significantly in the caput epididymis following BPA exposure. Consequently, the luminal pH slightly increased, resulting in premature capacitation of spermatozoa. Moreover, there was a significant loss of the acrosomal membrane following an increase of protein tyrosine phosphorylation, while PKA activity decreased during sperm capacitation. Fertility-related proteins also showed aberrant expression upon BPA exposure. These modifications resulted in decreased male fertility in vitro and in vivo.

尽管关于双酚A（BPA）在睾丸和精子上的研究很多，但尚未研究BPA对睾丸和精子成熟之间的生理联系的影响。为了为附睾中的精子成熟提供最佳的环境（酸性pH），透明细胞会分泌质子，而主细胞会重吸收碳酸氢盐和分泌的质子。由于其在精子的成熟和受精中起着至关重要的作用，因此必须考虑BPA暴露后附睾的功能变化，以充分了解BPA对男性生育的机制。在这里，我们确定了雄性小鼠青春期BPA暴露的不利影响。每天用媒介物（玉米油）和50 mg BPA / kg-BW喂食CD-1雄性小鼠6周。我们确定了附睾，精子功能参数（包括运动能力，BPA暴露后的获能状态，酪氨酸磷酸化以及与生育力相关的蛋白表达以及体外和体内的生育率。液泡型H + -ATPase的表达对于鳞状附睾的透明细胞分泌质子是必需的，并且在BPA暴露后直接下调，而附睾中其他上皮细胞类型没有变化。同样，在暴露于双酚A后的附睾中，pERK 1/2信号通路显着增加。因此，管腔的pH值略有增加，导致精子过早获能。此外，蛋白质酪氨酸磷酸化增加后，顶体膜明显丧失，而精子获能过程中PKA活性降低。与生育力相关的蛋白质在BPA暴露后也表现出异常表达。这些修饰导致体外和体内雄性育性降低。