Sperm capacitation is required for fertilization and involves several ion permeability changes. Although Cl(-) and HCO(3)(-) are essential for capacitation, the molecular entities responsible for their transport are not fully known. During mouse sperm capacitation, the intracellular concentration of Cl(-) ([Cl(-)](i)) increases and membrane potential (Em) hyperpolarizes. As in noncapacitated sp...

Recognition between mammalian gametes occurs when the plasma membrane of the sperm head binds to the zona pellucida (ZP), an extracellular coat surrounding eggs. ZP3, one of three glycoproteins in the ZP, is the egg protein recognized by sperm. A mouse sperm surface protein, sp56 (M(r) = 56,000), has been identified on the basis of its specific affinity for ZP3 (Bleil, J. D., and P. M. Wassarma...

Past studies have suggested that mouse sperm surface galactosyltransferase may participate during fertilization by binding N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) residues in the zona pellucida. In this paper, we examined further the role of sperm surface galactosyltransferase in mouse fertilization. Two reagents that specifically perturb sperm surface galactosyltransferase activity both inhibit sperm-zon...

channel activities, particularly those of calcium channels, have vital roles in the process of sperm maturation, motility and sperm-egg interaction. a group of the recently discovered ion channels associated with these processes is four novel channel-like proteins known as catsper (cation channel sperm) gene family. catsper1 and catsper2 show sperm specific expression patterns. however, neither...

The exchange of histones for transition proteins (TNPs) and finally protamines is an essential process during spermatogenesis that enables the strong condensation of chromatin during sperm formation. Research on this process obviously depends on the availability of specific antibodies recognizing these nuclear proteins. A commercial antibody generated against human protamine-2 (PRM2) has been d...

Previously, we reported that glycine initiates the in vitro acrosome reaction (AR) of porcine and human sperm by a mechanism that includes the glycine receptor/Cl- channel (GlyR) and that this receptor/channel is required for the zona-pellucida-initiated AR. Because mouse sperm are important tools in the study of fertilization, we investigated whether glycine initiated the mouse sperm AR and wh...

Mouse and hamster sperm receptors, called mZP3 (approximately 83,000 Mr) and hZP3 (approximately 56,000 Mr), respectively, are glycoproteins located in the ovulated egg zona pellucida. Certain of the glycoprotein O-linked oligosaccharides are essential for sperm receptor activity. Here, we transfected mouse embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells with mZP3 and hZP3 genes placed under control of a consti...

Successful fertilization requires gametes to complete several stages, beginning with maturation and transport along the male and female reproductive tracts and ending with the interaction between the sperm and the egg. This last step involves sperm-egg adhesion and membrane fusion. ADAMs (disintegrin and metalloprotease domain proteins) are a family of membrane-anchored glycoproteins that are t...

Past studies have suggested that mouse sperm surface galactosyltransferase may participate during fertilization by binding N-acetylglucosamine (GIcNAc) residues in the zona pellucida. In this paper, we examined further the role of sperm surface galactosyltransferase in mouse fertilization. Two reagents that specifically perturb sperm surface galactosyltransferase activity both inhibit sperm-zon...

Using homologous recombination, we have previously produced male mice carrying a disruptive mutation (Acr-/-) in the acrosin gene. Although Acr-/- mouse sperm lacking the acrosin protease activity still penetrated the zona pellucida and fertilized the egg, the mutant sperm exhibited a delay in penetration of the zona pellucida solely at the early stages after insemination. To further elucidate ...