Epididymis-specific defensin for evaluating and regulating male fertility

摘要

The present invention relates to the discovery that an epididymis-specific defensin, EP2D, plays an important role in regulating sperm motility and therefore male fertility. Provided are methods for evaluating male fertility based on the level of EP2D bound to sperm, kits for evaluating male fertility, and methods for enhancing or suppressing fertility in a male by regulating the level of EP2D and the binding between sperm and EP2D.