title: Developmental sperm contributions: fertilization and beyond.
abstract: The objective of this review was to examine the role of the various spermatozoal components suspected of actively participating in early human development. The contributions of the fertilizing spermatozoon to the oocyte include, as a minimum, the delivery of the DNA/chromatin, a putative oocyte-activating factor (OAF), and a centriole. Recent data indicate that spermatozoa may also provide the zygote with a unique suite of paternal mRNAs; some transcripts might be crucial for early and late embryonic development and deficient delivery, or aberrant transcription might contribute to abnormal development and arrest. Clinical evidence from assisted reproduction suggests that failure to complete the fertilization process, syngamy, or early cleavage might be the result of an early paternal effect. It is speculated that an abnormal release of a putative OAF and/or dysfunctions of the centrosome and cytoskeletal apparatus may mediate these effects. On the other hand, a later paternal effect resulting in embryonic failure to achieve implantation, pregnancy loss, and/or developmental abnormalities resulting from "carried over" sublethal effects may be associated with sperm nuclear/chromatin defects, including the presence of aneuploidy, genetic anomalies, DNA damage, and possibly other causes. These findings highlight the need for continuous monitoring of clinical results.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine and Infertility Division, National Institute of Perinatology, Mexico City, Mexico. Electronic address: asistida@servidor.inper.edu.mx.
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barroso
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine and Infertility Division, National Institute of Perinatology, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valdespin
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine and Infertility Division, National Institute of Perinatology, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine and Infertility Division, National Institute of Perinatology, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kershenovich
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine and Infertility Division, National Institute of Perinatology, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Rosaura
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Avila
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia.
authors.forename: Conrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Avendaño
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oehninger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002502:Centrioles / Q000502:physiology; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000502:physiology; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial