title: Markers of human sperm functions in the ICSI era.
abstract: The process of fertilization is crucial for species development and maintenance. Due to social and environmental problems, the number of infertile couples is increasing worldwide. Male and female factors contribute equally, and about 7% of men experiences problems in conceiving a child due to sperm defects. Assisted reproduction techniques (ARTs), including the most invasive intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), are the only available therapy for severe male factor infertility. Whether such techniques are associated with increased birth defects is still debated, and search for alternative options should go on. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the process of fertilization may lead to the development of new pharmacological strategies to treat infertile men and new male contraceptive agents. In addition, in view of the low predictive power of routine semen analysis, new tests aimed to better predict the fertilization potential could be developed. The present review summarizes current evidence of the molecular mechanisms involved in fertilization in human spermatozoa, with particular emphasis on the main post-ejaculatory maturation events, i.e. sperm capacitation and motility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Physiopathology, Andrology and Endocrinology Units, Center of Excellence DeNothe, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muratori
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marchiani
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tamburrino
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forti
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luconi
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baldi
mesh_terms: D054758:A Kinase Anchor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000502:physiology; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values; D055101:Semen Analysis; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000502:physiology*; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D058207:Sumoylation; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism; D054875:Ubiquitination; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D054758:A Kinase Anchor Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D014443:Tyrosine; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases; D002118:Calcium