Involvement of the plasminogen activator/plasmin proteolytic cascade in fertilization.
At the time of fertilization both murine gametes express plasminogen-dependent proteolytic activity: unfertilized eggs secrete tissue-type plasminogen activator and ejaculated spermatozoa have urokinase-type plasminogen activator bound to their surface. We now report that plasminogen is present in the fertilization environment and that both spermatozoa and eggs are able to specifically bind plasminogen. Furthermore, in vitro fertilization of mouse eggs is inhibited by antibodies which inhibit the catalytic activity of plasmin. Finally, with two different in vitro fertilization protocols, the addition of plasminogen to the fertilization medium increases the yield of fertilized eggs. These results provide evidence for a role of the plasminogen activator/plasmin proteolytic cascade in mammalian fertilization.
Institute of Histology and Embryology, University of Geneva Medical School, Switzerland.
J
J
Huarte
J D
JD
Vassalli
D
D
Belin
D
D
Sakkas
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005341:Fibrinolysin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010063:Ovum / Q000378:metabolism*; D010958:Plasminogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator
D000906:Antibodies; C524899:Plaur protein, mouse; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D010958:Plasminogen; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator; D005341:Fibrinolysin; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator