The role of seminal plasma in reproduction: just a transport medium for spermatozoa?

MOTRICH, RUBEN D.

Bogota

Congreso; IX Congreso Virtual de la SLIMP (Sociedad Latinoamericana de Interacción Materno-Fetal y Placenta ? Latin American Society for Materno Fetal Interaction and Placenta); 2022

Male fertility relies on correct spermatogenesis, sperm maturation and capacitation, and normal semen composition, which is successfully achieved when a proper and coordinated function of the different organs of the male genital tract occurs. Although seminal plasma was historically considered just a passive transport media for spermatozoa, cumulative reported evidence indicates that it contains a wide array of bioactive molecules that mediate different crucial functions to optimize fertility. In addition to providing sperm with proper nutrition and protection, seminal plasma components regulate sperm capacitation and survival and modulate the female immune system to induce tolerance to allogeneic embryos. Upon seminal fluid contact, female tissues initiate a controlled innate and adaptive immune response critical for implantation success and optimal fetal and placental development, which ultimately maximize the chances of a male producing healthy offspring. Male-female seminal fluid signaling is evident in all mammalian species investigated, including human, indicating evolutionarily conserved mechanisms. Understanding the female response to seminal fluid in health and disease will shed new light on infertility and pregnancy disorders and is essential to defining how events at conception influence offspring health.