Health Dictionary Find a Doctor

ODF1

Outer dense fiber protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ODF1 gene.[1][2]

The outer dense fibers are cytoskeletal structures that surround the axoneme in the middle piece and principal piece of the sperm tail. The fibers function in maintaining the elastic structure and recoil of the sperm tail as well as in protecting the tail from shear forces during epididymal transport and ejaculation. Defects in the outer dense fibers lead to abnormal sperm morphology and infertility. The human outer dense fibers contains at least 10 major proteins and this gene encodes the main protein.[2]

References

References

  1. Gastmann O, Burfeind P, Gunther E, Hameister H, Szpirer C, Hoyer-Fender S (Mar 1994). “Sequence, expression, and chromosomal assignment of a human sperm outer dense fiber gene”. Mol Reprod Dev. 36 (4): 407–418. doi:10.1002/mrd.1080360402. PMID 8305202.
  2. 2.0 2.1 “Entrez Gene: ODF1 outer dense fiber of sperm tails 1”.
Further reading

Further reading



Looking for the patient version?

Back to the patient-friendly article

© 2026 MyEClinic – IFTM Institut für Telematik in der Medizin GmbH