[Advances in the studies of epididymal protease inhibitor--Eppin].

The epididymal protease inhibitor (Eppin) abounds in human semen and on the surface of human spermatozoa, specifically produced by the testis and epididymis. Recombinant Eppin has effected infertility in the immunized monkey and promises to be an effective vaccine for human immunocontraception. This article reviews the advances in the studies of Eppin gene and protein construction and its molecular mechanism of causing immunologic infertility and regulating PSA hydrolysis of Semenogelin.