Extracellular vesicles in human reproduction in health and disease

Extensive evidence suggests that the release of membrane enclosed compartments, more commonly known as extracellular vesicles (EVs), is a potent newly identified mechanism of cellto-cell communication both in normal physiology and in pathological conditions. This article specifically reviews evidence about the formation and release of different EVs, their definitive
markers and cargo content in reproductive physiological processes, and their capacity to convey information between cells through the transfer of functional protein and genetic information to alter phenotype and function of recipient cells associated with reproductive biology. In the male reproductive tract, epididymosomes and prostasomes participate in regulating sperm motility
activation, capacitation and acrosome reaction. In the female reproductive tract, follicular fluid, oviduct/tube and uterine cavity EVs are considered as vehicles to carry information during oocyte maturation, fertilization and embryo-maternal cross talk. EVs via their cargo might be also involved in the triggering, maintenance and progression of reproductive and obstetric related
pathologies such as endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and erectile disfunction. We provide here, the current knowledge on the present and future use of EVs not only as biomarkers, but also as therapeutic targeting agents, mainly as vectors for drug/compounds delivery into target cells/tissues.