title: Current concepts of molecular events during bovine and porcine spermatozoa capacitation.
abstract: Spermatozoa are required to undergo the processes of capacitation before they obtain fertilizing ability. The molecular changes of capacitation are still not fully understood. However, it is accepted that capacitation is a sequential process involving numerous physiological changes including destabilization of the plasma membrane, alterations of intracellular ion concentrations and membrane potential, and protein phosphorylation. There are no known morphological changes that occur to the spermatozoon during capacitation. The purpose of this review is to summarize current evidence on the molecular aspects of capacitation both in vivo and in vitro in bovine and porcine spermatozoa. For the purpose of this review, the process of sperm capacitation will encompass maturational events that occur following ejaculation up to binding to the zona pellucida, that triggers acrosomal exocytosis and initiates fertilization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urologic Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Vadnais
authors.forename: Hannah L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Galantino-Homer
authors.forename: Gary C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Althouse
mesh_terms: D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase / Q000502:physiology; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006493:Heparin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000502:physiology; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013079:Sperm Maturation / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D006493:Heparin; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases; D002118:Calcium