The contraceptive potential of fertilization: a physiological perspective.
Several separate events of the fertilization sequence (sperm capacitation, regulated sperm transport in the oviduct, sperm-cumulus interaction, sperm-zona binding, the acrosome reaction, zona penetration, gamete fusion) represent points at which conception might be preventable. Each is considered variously with reference to its biological significance, what is known about the mechanisms involved, the issues that remain to be resolved, and the prospects for specific inhibition.
Bedford
J M
JM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY 10021.
D000177:Acrosome / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002459:Cell Fusion / Q000502:physiology; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000502:physiology; D013083:Sperm Transport / Q000502:physiology; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000502:physiology