John Schjenken, Research associate, University of Newcastle, Australia
•Seminal fluid factors modulate the female immune response at conception to facilitate embryo implantation and reproductive success. Whether sperm affect this response has not been clear.
•Evaluation of global gene expression by microarray in the mouse uterus after mating with intact or vasectomized males was performed.
•Intact males induced greater changes in immune regulatory genes and immune cells, indicating a biological role for sperm beyond oocyte fertilization.