title: Molecular mechanisms of the interaction between sperm and the zona pellucida in mammals: studies on the pig.
abstract: Research carried out on mammalian fertilization is summarized here. The main focus is on current knowledge of porcine gamete interaction. Attention has been given to the structural characterization of zona pellucida glycoproteins with sperm receptor activity and the primary zona pellucida-binding proteins of the spermadhesin family on spermatozoa, and to the role of acrosin as a secondary ligand for sulphated glycoproteins of the zona pellucida. Established similarities and differences between mammalian species are described to highlight the existence of both common and species-specific mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Reproduktionsmedizin, Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Töpfer-Petersen
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Calvete
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins