Researchers at Guangzhou Medical University and Nantong University discover intercellular organelle reservoir in the epididymal epithelium using FIB-SEM imaging

The critical need to study male infertility: revisiting the novel role of the epididymis

Infertility impacts millions of individuals, influencing not only their lives but also their families and communities. It is estimated that globally around one in six people of reproductive age experience infertility in their lifetime.¹

With regard to male infertility, causes can include genetic and epigenetic abnormalities, hormonal imbalances, and blockages in the reproductive system.

The epididymis, a fascinating and crucial part of the male reproductive system, is a long, tube-shaped organ essential for sperm maturation.² The epithelial cells lining this organ are key players in the development of healthy sperm. Historically, scientists observed interesting vacuole structures in these cells using transmission electron microscopy, but their distribution and function remained unclear.³

Amira Software sheds light on the ultrastructure of the epididymal epithelium

By combining a dual-beam SEM (FIB Helios G3 UC, Thermo Fisher Scientific) with Thermo Scientific Amira Software, the team of Prof. Hao Chen Hao, based in Guangzhou Medical University, in collaboration with Prof. Xia Li of Nanotong University and the team of Prof. Shumin Duan of Zhejiang University, shed light on the ultrastructure of the epididymis organ, uncovering a novel intercellular organelle structure at the lateral intercellular space (LIS) named the intercellular organelle reservoir (IOR).

Volume electron microscopy and Amira Software characterize epididymal epithelium cell structure

Professor Hao Chen focuses his research on unravelling the mysteries of the male reproductive system and diseases that underlie human fertility. Over the years, his laboratory has shifted its focus more specifically to the epididymis and the associated mechanisms that contribute to infertility. During his career, he had the chance to acquire experience into advanced imaging techniques. He started to explore volume EM in 2021 during a collaboration with Professors Xia Li and Shumin Duan. They ventured into uncharted territory developing volume electron microscopy (volume EM) fixation methods tailored for the epididymis.

After the acquisition of the volume EM data, they employed Amira Software to first align the images. Then, filtering tools in Amira Software were applied to improve the quality of the images. Finally, the segmentation tools available in Amira Software allowed them to reconstruct 3D models of the cells, uncovering a novel intercellular organelle structure named the intercellular organelle reservoir . This structure harbors a diverse array of organelles, including protein aggregates, autophagy-like vesicles, lysosome-associated organelles, and mitochondria.

The researchers mentioned that it was quite satisfactory to use Amira Software, citing that “Amira [Software] is a great tool for 3D reconstruction, and it is easy to use.” The impressive 3D models created using Amira Software were showcased in a paper published in the Nature Communications journal.

Acknowledgements

We extend our gratitude to the Center of Cryo-EM at Zhejiang University and to Dr. De’e Li, the Amira Software engineer, for their support.

References

1. World Health Organization. Infertility Fact Sheet. (2024). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infertility
2. Singh, S. K. Mammalian Endocrinology and Male Reproductive Biology. 1st Edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press (2015). doi: 10.1201/b18900
3. Xia Li, et al. In situ architecture of the intercellular organelle reservoir between epididymal epithelial cells by volume electron microscopy. Nature Commun 16, 1664 (2025). doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-56807-9

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