Abstract
In addition to its well established role as a neurotransmitter, extracellular ATP has been considered as a paracrine/autocrine factor, either released from sperm or epithelial cells, in the male reproductive tract and shown to play a versatile role in modulating various reproductive functions. This review summarizes the signal pathways through which ATP induces anion secretion by the epithelia of the epididymis, as well as its epithelium-dependent modulation of smooth muscle contraction of the vas deferens. Finally, the overall role of ATP in coordinating various reproductive events in the male genital tract is discussed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 487-494 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Sheng li xue bao : [Acta physiologica Sinica] |
| Volume | 59 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Publication status | Published - 25 Aug 2007 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)