title: Sperm penetration through cumulus mass and zona pellucida.
abstract: Mammalian fertilization requires sperm to penetrate the cumulus mass and egg zona pellucida prior to fusion with the egg. Although sperm penetration through these physical barriers is essential, the molecular mechanism has not yet been completely elucidated. In addition to sperm motility, hyaluronan-hydrolyzing and proteolytic enzymes of sperm have been suggested to participate in the penetration events. Here we focus on the functional roles of hyaluronidase and protease in sperm passage through the cumulus mass and zona pellucida.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba Science City, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Ekyune
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Misuzu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Arata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: Shin-Ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kashiwabara
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baba
mesh_terms: D020101:Acrosome Reaction; D000818:Animals; D054885:Cumulus Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D010063:Ovum / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase