The acrosome reaction by spermatozoa is an indispensable prerequisite for fertilization, and zonae pellucidae of human oocytes induce this reaction in the human spermatozoa attached to them. Human spermatozoa can attach to the zona pellucida of hamster oocytes when the oocytes have been treated with trypsin. We examined whether or not trypsin-treated hamster zona pellucida induces the acrosome ...

Cellular movements are produced by forces. Typically, cytoskeletal proteins such as microtubules and actin filaments generate forces via polymerization or in conjunction with molecular motors. However, the fertilization of a Limulus polyphemus egg involves a third type of actin-based cellular engine--a biological spring. During the acrosome reaction, a 60-microm long coiled and twisted bundle o...

it was known that il-1β-induced rapid expression of mir-146a, which regulated the secretion of inflammatory chemokines in human a549 alveolar epithelial cells. however, little is known about the level of primary mir-146a and the downstream biogenesis of mir-146a in a549 cells. we examined the levels of primary mir-146a and mature mir-146a in a549 cells following treatment with pharmacological i...

Recent advances in many areas of reproductive technology, such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and other forms of assisted fertilization, have been rapid. In many respects, these advances have outstripped our knowledge of the fundamental processes of human and animal sperm–egg interactions at fertilization. One of the major unresolved issues is the identity of the complementary molec...

To acquire fertilization competence, spermatozoa should undergo several biochemical changes in the female reproductive tract, known as capacitation. The capacitated spermatozoon can interact with the egg zona pellucida resulting in the occurrence of the acrosome reaction, a process that allowed its penetration into the egg and fertilization. Sperm capacitation requires actin polymerization, whe...

The acrosome reaction is a secretory event that must be completed by the sperm of many animal species prior to fusion with eggs. In mammals, exocytosis in triggered by ZP3, a glycoprotein component of the egg pellucida, following gamete contact. ZP3 promotes a sustained influx of Ca2+ into sperm that is necessary for the acrosome reaction. Here, we discuss the mechanism by which ZP3 generates C...

The objective of this study was to characterize acrosomal ultrastructure following discontinuous Percoll gradient centrifugation of cryopreserved bovine sperm. Semen was collected from six bulls of different breeds and three ejaculates per bull were evaluated. Frozen semen samples were thawed and the acrosomal region of sperm cells was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) before ...

In the interest of classifying cases of male factor infertility, we have paid particular attention to the sugar ligand binding properties of the human sperm surface and the functional capacity of the acrosome for exocytosis--key parameters for assessing sperm fertilizing ability. Zona recognition and binding involve the interactions of sperm surface mannose receptors (lectins) with mannose liga...

AIM To investigate the possible functions of human sperm membrane protein (hSMP-1) in the process of fertilization. METHODS A 576-bp cDNA fragment of HSD-1 gene coding for the extracellular domain of hSMP-1 was cloned and expressed. The localization of this protein on human and mouse sperm was determined by indirect immunofluorescent staining by using anti-recombinant hSMP-1 (anti-rhSMP-1) an...