• In this paper, we describe the capacitation phenotype of sperm lacking the long isoform of β1,4-galactosyltransferase I (GalT I), a sperm surface protein that functions as a receptor for the zona pellucida glycoprotein, ZP3, and as an inducer of the acrosome reaction following ZP3-dependent aggregation. (biologists.com)
  • As expected, wild-type sperm must undergo capacitation in order to bind the zona pellucida and undergo a Ca 2+ ionophore-induced acrosome reaction. (biologists.com)
  • Acrosome reaction, binding to zona pellucida and fusion with the oolemma were lower in Prdx6 -/- capacitated spermatozoa than WT capacitated controls and lower in WT spermatozoa treated with the PRDX6 inhibitor. (conicet.gov.ar)
  • Ca2+ signalling is of particular significance in sperm cells, where it is a central regulator in many key activities (including capacitation, hyperactivation, chemotaxis and acrosome reaction) yet mature sperm lack endoplasmic reticulum and several other organelles that serve as Ca2+ stores in somatic cells. (birmingham.ac.uk)
  • An immature sperm is immobile, so it cannot swim through the fallopian tube to reach the egg and does not have the ability to break down the wall of the egg to fertilize it (acrosome reaction). (fertilitysmarts.com)
  • In particular, arginine*1 is a source of nitric oxide useful for the process of capacitation (ability to fertilize) and for the acrosome reaction (changes of the sperm head that allow it to enter the egg to fertilize it) of the spermatozoa. (wabluspets.com)
  • Only sperm in the capacitation group presented differences in other capacitation-like parameters such as higher tyrosine phosphorylation and acrosome reaction. (lsu.edu)
  • The automated system also uses a different method to examine the effects of drugs on a second critical aspect required for fertilisation, called the acrosome reaction. (vaccar.biz)
  • Abnormalities of sperm function can be due to an infection of the genital tract (prostatitis), varicocele (an enlargement of the veins in the scrotum), anti-sperm antibodies, failure of sperm to attain fertilization potential ( commonly known as the 'acrosome reaction') and failure of sperm to bind and penetrate the egg. (conceptionsrepro.com)
  • Mammalian sperm must undergo a physiological maturation, termed capacitation, before they are able to fertilize eggs. (biologists.com)
  • By contrast, GalT I-null sperm behave as though they are precociously capacitated, in that they demonstrate maximal binding to the zona pellucida and greatly increased sensitivity to ionophore-induced acrosome reactions without undergoing capacitation in vitro. (biologists.com)
  • removing these decapacitating factors from wild-type sperm phenocopies the capacitation behavior of GalT I-null sperm. (biologists.com)
  • three co-factors normally required by wild-type sperm to achieve capacitation. (biologists.com)
  • Consistent with this, GalT I-null sperm have increased levels of cAMP that correlate closely with both the accelerated kinetics and co-factor-independence of GalT I-null sperm capacitation. (biologists.com)
  • These data suggest that GalT I may function as a negative regulator of capacitation in the sperm head by suppressing intracellular signaling pathways that promote this process. (biologists.com)
  • Before ejaculated sperm can complete any of these steps,they must undergo a series of biochemical, morphological and behavioral changes, collectively called capacitation. (biologists.com)
  • It plays a key role during sperm capacitation [ 3 - 6 ] and the acrosomal exocytosis [ 7 - 10 ], where it affects different intracellular signalling pathways. (plos.org)
  • In addition to its PRKA-dependent effects, different studies have clearly demonstrated that cAMP also activates EPAC ( E xchange P roteins directly A ctivated by c AMP) during capacitation and acrosome exocytosis [ 15 - 17 ]. (plos.org)
  • A series of biochemical and physical modifications in the sperm during the transport in the female reproductive tract that make the sperm capable of fertilization are called capacitation. (lsu.edu)
  • It is an important process since ejaculated sperm is not capable of fertilizing an oocyte before capacitation. (lsu.edu)
  • In vitro production of embryos leading to viable offspring has been successful in different mammalian species starting with the birth of a human baby in 1978 following an in vitro procedure that mimicked oocyte-sperm interactions, including capacitation of the sperm. (lsu.edu)
  • While in cattle heparin is an important factor for inducing sperm capacitation in vitro, in the horse, similar factors are still not characterized, therefore no acceptable rates of fertilization are attained. (lsu.edu)
  • Multiple strategies and different compounds have been tested with limited success over the years, and it is difficult to reliably assess in vitro capacitation of equine sperm, especially due to the lack of slaughterhouse-derived oocytes for research, which also contributes to the slow progress in the area. (lsu.edu)
  • The investigations conducted in my thesis research were inspired by recent reports in humans and mice linking protein lysine acetylation and sperm capacitation. (lsu.edu)
  • Accordingly, an initial study was designed to first detect lysine acetylation in stallion sperm as a proof of principle, to test if lysine acetylation would increase during sperm incubation in vitro, and to further test if inducing a hyperacetylated state in the sperm would consequently induce an increase of capacitation- like changes such as hypermotility, increase of tyrosine phosphorylation and increase in acrosome reacted cells. (lsu.edu)
  • For that, two deacetylase inhibitors (iDAC's), namely trichostatin A and nicotinamide, were used in different concentrations and the sperm in vitro capacitation was evaluated by validated assessment protocols. (lsu.edu)
  • In conclusion, capacitation events and equine sperm physiology still need to be further studied to understand the role of sperm acetylation. (lsu.edu)
  • Our experiment showed that it is possible to detect acetylated proteins in equine sperm and induction of a hyperactivated state in the sperm might require higher doses of iDAC's, different incubation times and different media pH modifications to achieve similar results previously found in murine species, where hyperacetylation induced capacitation-like changes in the sperm. (lsu.edu)
  • CIB1 has also been shown to be present in the acrosome region of the sperm, which plays a critical role in fertilization. (wikipedia.org)
  • Gamete interaction is a crucial event during fertilization when receptors on sperm bind to ligands on the extracellular coat of the egg, called the zona pellucida in mammals. (biologists.com)
  • The acrosome therefore serves an integral function during the fertilization process at the point where sperm must bind to the zona pellucida, the external membrane of the egg. (sharedjourney.com)
  • Nevertheless, the use of equine oocytes or efficient heterologous fertilization protocols where sperm-oocyte interaction is possible, might help to understand why conventional IVF in horses does not work yet. (lsu.edu)
  • The minisymposium, organized by Victor D. Vacquier, included the following presentations: "An Hypothesis to Explain the Evolution of Species-Specific Fertilization" by Victor D. Vacquier, "Molecular Biology of the Zona Pellucida: Genetic Mutations and Fertility" by Jurrein Dean, and "Sperm-Egg Membrane Interactions During Fertilizations" by Janice P. Evans. (bioone.org)
  • The sperm-specific ion channel CatSper is the principal calcium channel in sperm mediating the calcium influx into the sperm flagellum and acting as an essential modulator of downstream mechanisms involved in fertilization. (123dok.net)
  • Soon after fertilization, the vast majority of methylcytosine in sperm is converted by the Tet3 enzyme to hydroxymethylcytosine that gets lost by dilution during replication, effectively erasing cytosine methylation patterns except for a subset that is maintained, including those of some imprinted genes. (i-sis.org.uk)
  • After fertilization, the sperm genome is rapidly stripped of protamines and most, but not all histones. (i-sis.org.uk)
  • In Caenorhabditis elegans , this process is called sperm activation, and it transforms immotile spermatids into migratory fertilization-competent cells. (silverchair.com)
  • This evidence supports the existence of at least two storage organelles in mammalian sperm, one in the acrosomal region and another in the region of the sperm neck and midpiece. (birmingham.ac.uk)
  • Finally, we consider the ability of the sperm discretely to control mobilisation of these stores and the functional interaction of stored Ca2+ at the sperm neck/midpiece with CatSper channels in the principal piece in regulation of the activities of mammalian sperm. (birmingham.ac.uk)
  • The CDs of mature non-human mammalian sperm are found at the distal end of the midpiece. (biomedcentral.com)
  • In mice, CIB1 deficiency has been shown to lead to decreased spermatogonia proliferation and impaired differentiation into spermatocytes, resulting in reduced sperm production and male infertility. (wikipedia.org)
  • A team of researchers headed up by Jun Xia of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, in the People's Republic of China, found that mice who lack the protein known as PICK1 are infertile due to a condition that looks very much like human male globozoospermia. (sharedjourney.com)
  • In the Hong Kong University study, the male mice missing the PICK1 protein were found to have a low sperm count. (sharedjourney.com)
  • Newborn mice in which phrenic motor neurons lacked a specific combination of cadherins experienced respiratory failure, showing that these proteins were needed for breathing circuits to develop normally. (elifesciences.org)
  • Oligozoospermia with normal fertility in male mice lacking the androgen receptor in testis peritubular myoid cells. (abvpress.ru)
  • Sperm dysfunction in the Rb(6.16)- and Rb(6.15)-bearing mice revisited: involvement of Hyalp1 and Hyal5. (wikigenes.org)
  • This process of sperm maturation can be interrupted, leading to the release of immature sperm to the semen. (fertilitysmarts.com)
  • It is through their transit in the epididymis that sperms cells complete important maturation steps crucial for fulfilling their functions. (123dok.net)
  • As a major part of differentiation, sperm undergo extensive post-meiotic maturation en route to the oocyte. (silverchair.com)
  • How much of a stumbling block this presents to conception depends upon the ratio of these abnormal sperm to other healthier, more normal sperm, which may also be present in the man's semen. (sharedjourney.com)
  • Reduced percentages of motile and morphologically normal sperm in the ejaculate below the lower reference limit. (icmartivf.org)
  • For this reason, men with a relatively high proportion of immature sperm can have low fertility. (fertilitysmarts.com)
  • It may be too early to postulate a theory, but if men with globozoospermia were also found to have low levels of PICK1 and if it were possible to replace or restore this protein, sperm health and fertility might also be restored. (sharedjourney.com)
  • One thousand six hundred thirty-three men who were referred for evaluation of infertility which included a complete sperm analysis. (maajataivas.net)
  • This leads to a reduction in the number of mature sperm and therefore decreases the ability of the male to fertilize an egg, causing male infertility. (fertilitysmarts.com)
  • At the level of human exposure, ATZ reduces sperm count and contribute to infertility in men. (frontiersin.org)
  • The cytoplasmic droplet then becomes known as excess residual cytoplasm, which can impair overall sperm function and produce higher levels of reactive oxygen species, potentially leading to male infertility. (biomedcentral.com)
  • psychosocial impact of male infertility, diet and lifestyle factors affecting sperm parameters, environmental factors affecting sperm health and the effect of supplementation on sperm health. (nutraingredients-usa.com)
  • Infertility in men can result from deficiencies in sperm formation, concentration, or transportation. (medscape.com)
  • Indications for performing a postcoital test include semen hyperviscosity, increased or decreased semen volume with good sperm density, or unexplained infertility. (medscape.com)
  • Testicular biopsy is indicated in azoospermic men with a normal-sized testis and normal findings on hormonal studies to evaluate for ductal obstruction, to further evaluate idiopathic infertility, and to retrieve sperm. (medscape.com)
  • Male infertility can be divided into three major categories that include: abnormalities of sperm production, abnormalities of sperm function, and obstruction or absence of the ductal system. (conceptionsrepro.com)
  • A recently developed test called the sperm DNA integrity assay (SDIA) or sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) has been used to diagnose those cases of possibly unidentified male infertility with normal semen analysis. (conceptionsrepro.com)
  • Although a high level of PDE10A gene expression is observed in the testis, information on the identity of the isoforms or on the cell type that express the PDE10 protein is lacking. (plos.org)
  • Secondly, by the lack of studies that convincingly link a protein target in human sperm to the key functions that sperm must carry out after leaving the male, and thirdly the absence of an efficient system to screen the effects of the myriad chemicals and known drugs that are available. (vaccar.biz)
  • This study was conducted to evaluate in vivo and in vitro development of in vitro-matured equine oocytes fertilized by intracytoplasmic sperm injection. (bioone.org)
  • Oocytes were collected from slaughterhouse-derived ovaries, matured in vitro, and injected with frozen-thawed stallion sperm. (bioone.org)
  • All interventions that include the in vitro handling of both human oocytes and sperm or of embryos for the purpose of reproduction. (icmartivf.org)
  • Scanning and transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate the fine structure of the sperm of the Sparid fish Pagellus erythrinus L.. The spermatozoon of pandora has a spherical head lacking an acrosome, a cone-shaped midpiece and a long tail. (cnr.it)
  • When the cytoplasm around the sperm midpiece is present in large amounts, however, pathological effects may transpire. (biomedcentral.com)
  • A healthy man is likely to produce about 300 million sperm a day. (fertilitysmarts.com)
  • Once an obstructive cause is ruled out in a patient with less than 5 million sperm per milliliter, a full chromosome analysis and testing for the Y chromosome microdeletions is warranted. (conceptionsrepro.com)
  • This case report detailed the course of treatment and protocol of a patient with type 1 globozoospermia using Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) and oocyte activation by calcium ionophore, which yielded conception and birth of a healthy baby after six previous unsuccessful attempts, using ICSI alone. (jri.ir)
  • Alternatively, sperm can be obtained from the testicles by a biopsy and used in conjunction with an IVF and ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) procedure, although if there is no sperm found at the time of the biopsy, donor sperm becomes the only option. (conceptionsrepro.com)
  • The acrosome is a section of the sperm that contains the necessary proteins to dissolve the egg's external membrane. (sharedjourney.com)
  • The researchers found that PICK1 interacts with two proteins, GOPC and CK2-alpha quite close to the area of those cellular structures which form the acrosomes. (sharedjourney.com)
  • By using live human sperm and examining their behaviour, or phenotype, in the presence of drugs and other chemicals, we hope to circumvent the need to second-guess which proteins are important for the cellular processes underlying sperm's fertilisation capacity. (vaccar.biz)
  • In mammals, most histone proteins are lost during sperm development, eventually to be replaced by protamines. (i-sis.org.uk)
  • CIB1 interacts with the sperm-specific calcium channel CatSper, which is important for regulating intracellular calcium levels in sperm. (wikipedia.org)
  • This implies that intracellular targets of albumin, Ca 2+ and/or HCO 3 - may be constitutively active in GalT I-null sperm. (biologists.com)
  • Sperm intracellular cAMP levels depend on the activity of adenylyl cyclases, mostly SACY, though transmembrane-containing adenylyl cyclases are also present, and on the activity of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDE) whose role is to degrade cAMP into 5'-AMP. (plos.org)
  • As in somatic cells, sperm intracellular cAMP concentration is regulated by the opposite action of two enzymes: the adenylyl cyclases (AC), which synthesize cAMP from ATP, and the phosphodiesterases (PDE), which break the phosphodiester bond of cAMP to form 5'-adenosine monophosphate (AMP). (plos.org)
  • An immature sperm is a "younger" sperm cell that lacks the characteristic features and functions of mature sperm. (fertilitysmarts.com)
  • In the case of environmental toxins, Michael Skinner's reproductive biology lab at Washington State University Pullman in the United States first reported in 2005 that injecting pregnant rats with endocrine disruptor fungicide vinclozolin caused sperm abnormalities that persisted in the male progeny for at least 4 generations [4]. (i-sis.org.uk)
  • Abnormalities of the sperm production can be due to testicular failure (Y chromosome microdeletions or Klinefelter's syndrome), damage to the testes, toxins, radiation, infections, insufficient hormone production from the pituitary gland (FSH and LH) and use of androgenic compounds such as testosterone. (conceptionsrepro.com)
  • In men with thyroid abnormalities, thyroid function is normalized with medications and reproductive hormones are also expected to improve with adequate sperm production. (conceptionsrepro.com)
  • In normal cell biology, ROS levels increase with a decreasing antioxidant response, resulting in oxidative stress which threatens sperm biology. (mdpi.com)
  • It is, however, difficult to meet this demand due to a current lack of understanding concerning how RF-EME interacts with biology. (nature.com)
  • EDITOR'S PREFACE: The first paper in this issue of Biology of Reproduction is a minireview entitled "Getting Sperm and Egg Together: Things Conserved and Things Diverged," by Janice P. Evans. (bioone.org)
  • Firstly, by the relatively poor understanding of human sperm biology. (vaccar.biz)
  • This dual platform now allows for major drug discovery programmes that address the critical gap in the contraceptive portfolio as well as uncover novel human sperm biology. (vaccar.biz)
  • Oxidative stress has numerous effects, including increased apoptosis, reduced motion parameters, and reduced sperm integrity. (mdpi.com)
  • In globozoospermia, the heads of individual sperm are too round-headed. (sharedjourney.com)
  • In the most severe cases of globozoospermia, the acrosome is altogether absent. (sharedjourney.com)
  • Those sperm that were produced appeared abnormal with the characteristic round heads seen in human globozoospermia. (sharedjourney.com)
  • Infertile men may have deficiencies in sperm formation, concentration (eg, oligospermia [too few sperm], azoospermia [no sperm in the ejaculate]), or transportation. (medscape.com)
  • If abnormal, it should be repeated for confirmation of the abnormal parameters and in the absence of sperm (azoospermia), urological evaluation is recommended. (conceptionsrepro.com)
  • Researchers at the University of Dundee have developed an unrivalled, fully automated robotic screening system which allows them to rapidly test the effect of drugs and other chemicals on human sperm. (vaccar.biz)
  • To address these deficits, the researchers at Dundee developed a miniaturised parallel testing system run by a robot that uses a fast microscope and image-processing tools that precisely track the very fast movement of human sperm, thus allowing the effects of drugs to be accurately measured. (vaccar.biz)
  • Identification of a hyaluronidase, Hyal5, involved in penetration of mouse sperm through cumulus mass. (wikigenes.org)
  • The treatment with iDAC's in turn, only increased the percentage of acrosome reacted sperm when the highest dose was used. (lsu.edu)
  • The main sperm components were similar as for other Dipteran subspecies, while the ultrastructure revealed distinguishing features in the zone of overlap and anterior flagellar region. (up.ac.za)
  • We then go on to discuss the probable identity of these organelles and their discrete functions: regulation by the acrosome of its own secretion and regulation by membranous organelles at the sperm neck (and possibly by the mitochondria) of flagellar activity and hyperactivation. (birmingham.ac.uk)
  • and 3) characterization of functional domains in different sperm ligands (fertilin-α and fertilin-β in the mouse and lysin in the abalone) that recognize cognate binding sites on the egg surface. (bioone.org)
  • Since Sperm DNA fragmentation and decondensation now are appear to be correlated with early or late failures of assisted reproductive technologies, the authors conclude "that in the case of sperm of good quality, as defined by the World Health Organization guidelines and CASA parameters, a careful analysis of chromatin structure and DNA decays is mandatory. (maajataivas.net)
  • SDIA is a helpful tool for measuring clinically important properties of sperm nuclear chromatin integrity. (conceptionsrepro.com)
  • On the basis of its ultrastructural organization, the pandora sperm can be regarded as an evolved form of the primitive spermatozoon found in Teleosts. (cnr.it)
  • The round-headed sperm not only display an abnormal nuclear shape, but they also present with an abnormal arrangement of the mitochondria of the spermatozoon. (sharedjourney.com)
  • MPVs were previously considered distinct from CDs and characteristic of immature sperm [ 13 ]. (biomedcentral.com)
  • The DNA damage analysis may reveal a hidden abnormality of sperm DNA in infertile men classified as unexplained based on apparently normal standard sperm parameters. (conceptionsrepro.com)
  • This process involves several stages, including mitotic division, meiotic division, and differentiation, which results in the production of four haploid sperm cells from one diploid spermatogonium. (wikipedia.org)
  • cells or their nuclei) lacking in any arrangement, i.e., these globules do not reveal any resemblance with the form or structure of the future embryo. (biologydiscussion.com)
  • Sperm cells are highly sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are produced during cellular oxidation. (mdpi.com)
  • firstly, it is important to check that the condom material is not toxic to sperm, and secondly, much care is needed to ensure that the sample isn't contaminated by any other cells during the withdrawal process, such as cells from the vagina, as these may affect the sperm. (fertilityroad.com)
  • Here, we review i) the evidence for the expression in sperm of the molecular components (pumps and channels) which are functionally significant in the activity of Ca2+ stores of somatic cells and ii) the evidence for the existence of functional Ca2+ stores in sperm. (birmingham.ac.uk)
  • Electrical activity recorded from these cells showed that phrenic motor neurons lacking cadherins could not receive the signals required to activate the breathing muscles. (elifesciences.org)
  • After being released in the lumen of the seminif- erous tubules, sperm cells have to accomplish several challenging tasks before reaching and fertilizing the egg. (123dok.net)
  • The development of highly differentiated sperm cells that are specialized for navigating to and fusing with an oocyte is essential for sexual reproduction. (silverchair.com)
  • An opaquer sample may indicate a low sperm count, whereas a more yellow sample may indicate a possible infection, jaundice, or that the man may be taking some form of drugs. (fertilityroad.com)
  • If a man has a low sperm count, an endocrine evaluation is recommended. (conceptionsrepro.com)
  • Genetic evaluation of men with low sperm count is also recommended after an initial evaluation to rule out any obstruction in the male genital system. (conceptionsrepro.com)
  • UroToday - The objective of this study was to determine if there was any correlation between DNA fragmentation by using terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling and standard semen parameters (WHO) and computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) parameters. (maajataivas.net)
  • The review concludes that there is a general lack of interventional studies investigating the impact of poor dietary patterns on semen parameters, presumably because it is not ethically justifiable to cause harm to participants through adherence to an unhealthy diet. (nutraingredients-usa.com)
  • Here, we show that the negative regulator of sperm activation, SWM-1, is produced in an unexpected cell type: body wall muscle. (silverchair.com)
  • The lack of correlation with standard parameters is perhaps more important than the correlations. (maajataivas.net)
  • Cyclic AMP (adenosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate) is an important player in sperm function. (plos.org)
  • For this reason, CDs are not considered detrimental to proper sperm function. (biomedcentral.com)
  • It allows us for the first time to assess in large numbers how compounds can affect sperm function. (vaccar.biz)
  • Sperm-egg interactions occur at multiple levels on the egg surface, first with the egg's extracellular matrix and then with the egg's plasma membrane. (bioone.org)
  • Thus, ART does not, and ART-only registries do not, include assisted insemination using sperm from either a woman's partner or a sperm donor. (icmartivf.org)
  • Medical or surgical treatment is generally not successful and donor sperm is often times utilized to achieve a pregnancy. (conceptionsrepro.com)
  • The outcome of the study shows that it is possible to find effective agents that halt the sperm in its tracks and further work will be done to investigate if any of these are suitable for long term use in the male. (vaccar.biz)