Daniel Cyr, PhD

Spermatozoa are formed by spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules of the testis.  In mammals, testicular spermatozoa cannot swim or fertilize an ovum. These abilities are acquired in the epididymis during sperm maturation. The luminal environment of the epididymis necessary for sperm maturation is created in part by modulation of pH, secretion of sperm-binding proteins by the epididymis, and the presence of the blood-epididymis barrier, which regulates the transport of selected molecules across the epithelium and their release in the lumen. The development and differentiation of the epididymal epithelium is critical for male fertility.

Our research program aims to understand cellular differentiation of the epididymis, a process which remains poorly understood.  Our laboratory has developed unique tools to study the cellular and molecular regulation of cell differentiation in the epididymis.  These include unique cell lines and organoid models using epididymal basal stem cells to assess the role of cell-cell interaction in the epididymis and how environmental contaminants, such as nanoplastics can alter these interactions leading to male infertility.

Sara Yim
BSc student
sara.yim@inrs.ca

Unnikrishnan Kannan
MSc student
unnikrishnan.kannan@inrs.ca

Chen Zhu
MSc student
chen.zhu@inrs.ca

Paloma Medeiros
PhD Student
paloma.medeiros@inrs.ca

Julie Dufresne, MSc
Research assistant
julie.dufresne@inrs.ca

Mary Gregory, MSc
Research assistant
mary.gregory@inrs.ca