High impact information on Sperm Capacitation

• CatSper1 is not needed for other developmental landmarks, including regional distributions of CaV1.2, CaV2.2, and CaV2.3 ion channel proteins, the cAMP-mediated activation of motility by HCO3-, and the protein phosphorylation cascade of sperm capacitation [1].
• According to this hypothesis, the cleavage of the sulfate moiety within the female reproductive tract triggers a cascade of events leading to sperm capacitation and fertilization [2].
• These data show that the Tpx-1 Crisp domain on its own can regulate ion channel activity and provide compelling evidence for a role for Tpx-1 in the regulation of Ca(2+) fluxes observed during sperm capacitation [3].
• Glycodelin-S in human seminal plasma reduces cholesterol efflux and inhibits capacitation of spermatozoa [4].
• The SVS VII-sperm binding greatly enhanced sperm motility but did not induce sperm capacitation [5].

Biological context of Sperm Capacitation

• Among other events, mouse sperm capacitation leads to an increase in the intracellular Ca(2+) and pH as well as to a hyperpolarization of the membrane potential [6].
• Progesterone (P) is postulated to have a physiological role in vivo during sperm capacitation and/or during sperm-egg interaction as a cofactor for induction of the acrosome reaction [7].
• The process of sperm capacitation is correlated with activation of a signal transduction pathway leading to protein tyrosine phosphorylation [8].
• Ca(2+)-regulating mechanisms that modulate bull sperm capacitation and acrosomal exocytosis as determined by chlortetracycline analysis [9].
• Taurine and/or hypotaurine are necessary compounds for sperm capacitation, fertilization and embryo development [10].

Anatomical context of Sperm Capacitation

• These data support the hypothesis that ATP specifically produced by a compartmentalized glycolytic pathway in the principal piece of the flagellum, as opposed to ATP generated by mitochondria in the mid-piece, is strictly required for protein tyrosine phosphorylation events that take place during sperm capacitation [11].
• We also show that the non-hydrolyzable AEA analogue methanandamide reduces sperm capacitation and, as a consequence, inhibits the process of acrosome reaction (AR) triggered by the zona pellucida, according to a cyclic AMP-dependent pathway triggered by CB1R activation [12].
• The phosphotyrosine expression associated with sperm capacitation localised to internal flagellar structures in permeabilised cells but could also be detected on the exterior surface of the sperm head in live cells [13].
• This study aimed to demonstrate nitric oxide production by human spermatozoa and to characterize the interaction between nitric oxide and cAMP-related pathway in the control of human sperm capacitation and protein tyrosine phosphorylation [14].
• Because, in neutrophils, the generation of O2.- is associated with tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins, the aim of the present study was to investigate the association between protein-tyrosine phosphorylation and ROS-induced human sperm capacitation [15].

Associations of Sperm Capacitation with chemical compounds

• The involvement of PLD is supported by specific inhibition of F-actin formation during sperm capacitation by PLD inhibitors and the stimulation of fast F-actin formation by exogenous PLD or phosphatidic acid (PA) [16].
• Disulfide reductants, dithiothreitol (DTT), thioredoxin (TRX), glutathione (GSH), tris-(2-carboxyethyl) phosphine (TCEP), and tris-(2-cyanoethyl) phosphine (TCP) partially to totally inhibited FCSu-induced sperm capacitation and O2-. production [17].
• The effect of co-incubation of heparin, which is implicated in sperm capacitation and which also interacts with BSP proteins, was studied [18].
• Role of spermine in mammalian sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction [19].
• Sperm capacitation was assessed by the B pattern of staining by chlortetracycline (CTC) and by the ability of sperm to undergo the lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)-induced AR [20].

Gene context of Sperm Capacitation

• Reactive oxygen species (ROS), protein kinase A (PKA), protein kinase C (PKC), protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs), and the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK or mitogen-activated protein kinase [MAPK]) pathway regulate sperm capacitation [21].
• The role of this activity in the occurrence of sperm capacitation was also investigated by using PD098059, an inhibitor of the MAPK cascade [22].
• Reactive oxygen species and protein kinases modulate the level of phospho-MEK-like proteins during human sperm capacitation [21].
• Recent studies have shown that OGP plays an important role in pre-fertilization reproductive events (i.e. sperm capacitation, sperm-zona binding and zona penetration) [23].
• Here, we have investigated the topographical distribution and fate of bovine spermadhesin aSFP during sperm capacitation in order to assess whether aSFP could be involved in similar aspects of the fertilization process as its boar homologous proteins [24].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of Sperm Capacitation

• We have used chlortetracycline (CTC) analysis to investigate mechanisms that may play important roles during bull sperm capacitation in a culture medium (containing glucose, heparin, and caffeine) known to promote capacitation and fertilization in vitro [9].
• Co-culture of sperm with CFTR antisense-treated endometrial cells or HCO(3)(-) secretion-defective CF epithelial cells resulted in reduced sperm capacitation and egg-fertilizing ability [25].
• Bovine embryo development following ICSI: effect of activation, sperm capacitation and pre-treatment with dithiothreitol [26].

References