title: Mechanisms of fertilization elucidated by gene-manipulated animals.
abstract: Capacitation and the acrosome reaction are key phenomena in mammalian fertilization. These phenomena were found more than 60 years ago. However, fundamental questions regarding the nature of capacitation and the timing of the acrosome reaction remain unsolved. Factors were postulated over time, but as their roles were not verified by gene-disruption experiments, widely accepted notions concerning the mechanism of fertilization are facing modifications. Today, although in vitro fertilization systems remain our central research tool, the importance of in vivo observations must be revisited. Here, primarily focusing on our own research, I summarize how in vivo observations using gene-manipulated animals have elucidated new concepts in the mechanisms of fertilization.
authors: Center for Genetic Analysis for Biological Responses, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Yamadaoka 3-1, Suita, Osaka 565 0871, Japan.
authors: Masaru
authors: M
authors: Okabe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism