Zinc effects on mouse spermatozoa and in-vitro fertilization.
The fertilizing ability of mouse epididymal and capacitated spermatozoa was tested by mixing with normal or zona-free ova. In the presence of Zn2+, the epididymal spermatozoa failed not only to penetrate the zona pellucida but also to fuse with zone-free ova, while no effect was observed on capacitated spermatozoa. Zn2+ also inhibited fertilization with spermatozoa preincubated in Ca2+-free medium. However, shortly after the addition of Ca2+ to the preincubated spermatozoa, Zn2+ lost its fertilization inhibitory activity.
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology*
D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium