Examining the role of α-ketoglutaric acid (AKG) and its receptor OXGR1 in male sperm maturation

Infertility is a global public health problem caused by genetic defects, lifestyle, nutrition, and factors affecting the local metabolism and microenvironment of the reproductive system. Sperm from the testis must enter the epididymis to undergo a series of structural, biochemical and functional changes before they can gain maturity and become capable of fertilization. The influence of the epididymis on sperm maturation is highly susceptible to aging, stress and local metabolic factors.