Figure 2.

Selective release of extracellular miRNAs (ex-miRNAs) from epididymal cells. Extracellular-miRNA populations associated with epididymosomes do not reflect the miRNA profiles of the surrounding epithelium, suggesting the existence of a selective and regulatory mechanism before miRNA release, as observed for circulating blood cells. Box A: miRNAs found enriched in epididymosomes; Box B: miRNAs found enriched in the surrounding epithelium; miRNAs in italics are conserved in bovine and human epididymosomes; miRNAs in bold font are exclusively found in human epididymosomes; *refers to miRNAs that are only expressed in the male reproductive system of humans and nonhuman primates.97,98