The goal of this study was to examine the effect of palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) on the capacitation process and hyperactivated motility (HA) in idiopathic infertile men. Our data show the effect of PEA on the kinematic parameters of sperm cells from idiopathic infertile men during the capacitation of spermatozoa in vitro, both in the presence and absence of 2.5 nM PEA, a molecule physiologicall...

Sperm capacitation involves functional changes, such as the removal or appearance of specific molecules and changes in the plasma membrane; the acrosome reaction (AR) is an exocytotic event induced by calcium influx, enabling the spermatozoa to penetrate the zona pellucida. These processes can be achieved only if the spermatozoa have good viability; indeed, determination of sperm viability is u...

Studies using genetic and biochemical probes have suggested that mouse sperm surface galactosyltransferases may participate during fertilization by binding N- acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) residues in the egg zona pellucida. In light of these results, we examined sperm surface galactosyltransferase activity during in vitro capacitation to determine whether changes in enzymatic activity correlated ...

To carry out its fertilizing role, the mammalian spermatozoon must express several key functions amongst which is the exocytosis of its acrosome (the so-called ‘acrosome reaction’) as a response to contact with the extracellular egg coat (the zona pellucida). As ejaculated, the mature spermatozoon is incapable of this response, and indeed of the expression of other fertilizing functions: a prim...

Capacitation is a priming event that renders mammalian spermatozoa responsive to signals originating from the cumulus-oocyte complex. The attainment of a capacitated state is dependent upon an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation and results in the acquisition of responsiveness to physiological agonists such as progesterone and ZP3. In this study we have shown that this capacitation-dependent i...

Integrity of the sperm membrane, of which phosphatidyl serine (PS) plays a central role, is essential for fertilization. The externalisation of PS (EPS) occurs during capacitation and the acrosome reaction. EPS, from the inner to the outer membrane, is considered as a sign of early apoptosis. Therefore, EPS may have a dual function in sperm. This study has evaluated the relationship between EPS...

Background: Externalization of PS (EPS) is considered as a sign of early apoptosis. In addition, EPS also occurs during capacitation and the acrosome reaction. During this study we aimed to evaluate the relationship between EPS and fertilization, embryo quality and pregnancy outcomes in couples who were candidates for ICSI. Materials and Methods: Semen samples (n = 43) were collected from infer...