Factors and pathways involved in capacitation: how are they regulated?
In mammals, fertilization occurs via a comprehensive progression of events. Freshly ejaculated sperm have yet to acquire progressive motility or fertilization ability. They must first undergo a series of biochemical and physiological changes, collectively known as capacitation. Capacitation is a significant prerequisite to fertilization. During the process of capacitation, changes in membrane properties, intracellular ion concentration and the activities of enzymes, together with other protein modifications, induce multiple signaling events and pathways in defined media in vitro or in the female reproductive tract in vivo. These, in turn, stimulate the acrosome reaction and prepare spermatozoa for penetration of the egg zona pellucida prior to fertilization. In the present review, we conclude all mainstream factors and pathways regulate capacitation and highlight their crosstalk. We also summarize the relationship between capacitation and assisted reproductive technology or human disease. In the end, we sum up the open questions and future avenues in this field.
The Sperm Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Shi-Kai
SK
Jin
The Sperm Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Wan-Xi
WX
Yang
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D007477:Ions / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D007473:Ion Channels; D007477:Ions; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D002118:Calcium
cAMP-PKA; calcium ion; capacitation; protein phosphorylation; signaling pathway
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