Sperm penetration through cumulus mass and zona pellucida.
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.
Kim
Ekyune
E
Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba Science City, Ibaraki, Japan.
Yamashita
Misuzu
M
Kimura
Masanori
M
Honda
Arata
A
Kashiwabara
Shin-Ichi
S
Baba
Tadashi
T
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*
D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase