An overview on the molecular mechanisms involved in human fertilization

VAZQUEZ-LEVIN MH; MARIN-BRIGGILER CI

Intertility in the Male (Fourth Edition).

Cambridge University Press

Lugar: Cambridge, Gran Bretaña; Año: 2006;

El capítulo citado no tiene abstract o resumen oficial. Fragmento del capítulo: Fertilization is a fundamental process that involves a highly coordinated sequence of interactions between the female and male gametes, giving rise to a diploid zygote. During this process, spermatozoa that have successfully completed spermatogenesis, epididymal maturation, and transport through the female reproductive tract, first bind to the extracellular matrix that surrounds the egg, called the Zona Pellucida (ZP). Sperm binding to ZP glycoproteins triggers sperm Acrosomal Exocytosis (AE), involving fusion of the sperm plasma and outer acrosomal membranes and the release of the content from the acrosomal granule; these components, in conjunction with the hyperactivated vigorous motility, help sperm penetration through the ZP. The spermatozoon reaches the perivitelline space, binds and fuses to the egg plasma membrane(oolemma); the sperm head enters the egg cytoplasm (ooplasm), and the sperm nucleus undergoes decondensation. Ultimately, sperm entrance triggers mechanisms to block polyzoospermy. Although in the last 30 years some of the mechanisms involved in mammalian fertilizationhave been elucidated, the molecular basis of human sperm-egg interaction are still not completely known. The understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the processes by which spermatozoa reach, recognize, bind and fuse with the egg will provide new tools for the improvement of current methods of treatment and diagnosis of male infertility, as well as methods for male fertility regulation This chapter is aimed at presenting an overview on the current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in human fertilization and the components participating in this process.