The hormonal factors responsible for variation in sperm penetration rates of zona-free hamster ova caused by the use of human sera were investigated. Sera obtained at different times in the menstrual cycle, 17-beta estradiol (E2), or progesterone (P) was added to Biggers Whitten and Whittingham (BWW) medium used for the sperm penetration assay. Luteal phase sera enhanced egg penetration significantly when compared with either follicular or preovulatory sera (48.8% versus 23% and 25%; P less than 0.01). E2 at concentrations of 2 pg/ml to 2 X 10(6) pg/ml had no effect on sperm motility or egg penetration. Addition of P to control media at final concentrations of 0.5 to 50 ng/ml caused a significant elevation of egg penetration (68% to 91% to 96%; P less than 0.01) without affecting sperm motility. Since P has been shown to have a direct effect on plasma membranes and to bind to spermatozoan plasma membrane, the authors propose that P could have a physiologic role during capacitation or sperm egg interaction in vivo.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(16)60018-3 | DOI Listing |
Biomolecules
November 2024
Department of Applied Life Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan.
We previously reported that five astacin-like metalloproteases with thrombospondin type-1 repeats (Tasts) located on the sperm surface are a promising candidate as the protease involved in sperm penetration of the vitelline coat (VC) during fertilization of the ascidian type A (Phlebobranchia). However, whether such a protease is involved in the fertilization of other ascidians is unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of four metalloprotease inhibitors on the fertilization of the ascidian (Stolidobranchia).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPol J Vet Sci
September 2024
Department of Clinics, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Namakkal-637 001, India.
The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro penetration rate of antioxidant enriched frozen thawed Kangayam bull semen. For the current investigation, 5-7-year-old Kangayam bulls were used. The semen was collected twice per week and two ejaculates were collected each time.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCommun Biol
December 2024
The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 1088639, Japan.
One of the major age-related declines in female reproductive function is the reduced quantity and quality of oocytes. Here we demonstrate that structural changes in the zona pellucida (ZP) were associated with decreased fertilization rates from 34- to 38-week-old female mice, equivalent to the mid-reproductive of human females. In middle-aged mouse ovaries, the decline in the number of transzonal projections was accompanied by a decrease in cumulus cell-oocyte interactions, resulting in a deterioration of the oocyte quality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Reprod Dev
December 2024
Department of Integrated Applied Life Science, Integrated Graduate School of Medicine, Engineering, and Agricultural Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-0016, Japan.
Calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum via sperm-derived phospholipase C zeta is crucial for oocyte activation during fertilization. Chloroquine (CQ) inhibits the increase in cytoplasmic calcium. This study investigated the effects of CQ on fertilization and oocyte activation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Transl Med
December 2024
Department of Biological Science, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.
Background: The mechanisms enabling sperm to locate unfertilized eggs within the fallopian tubes remain a subject of debate in reproductive biology. Previous studies using polytocous mammals observed a 1:1 sperm-egg ratio within the ampulla at the time of fertilization. From these observations, it is hypothesized that this mechanism could be linked to sperm-egg fusion, such that unfertilized eggs may attract sperm until fusion occurs, whereupon the attraction ceases.
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