Organization of the Hamster Cumulus Extracellular Matrix: A Hyaluronate-Glycoprotein Gel which Modulates Sperm Access to the Oocyte. Extracellular matrix/Hyaluronate/Oocyte-cumulus complex/Extracellular matrix glycoproteins/Sperm enzymes

Cumulus cells and their extracellular matrix affect the quality of the spermatozoa penetrating the cumulus mass.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the role of the cumulus cells and the cumulus matrix in affecting the penetrability, morphology, acrosome reaction, and motility of human spermatozoa penetrating the cumulus oophorus. DESIGN Controlled experimental laboratory study. SETTING University gynecology unit. PATIENT(S) Women undergoing assisted reproduction treatment and men visiting the subfertility cli...

The Biological Role of Hyaluronan-Rich Oocyte-Cumulus Extracellular Matrix in Female Reproduction

Fertilization of the mammalian oocyte requires interactions between spermatozoa and expanded cumulus extracellular matrix (ECM) that surrounds the oocyte. This review focuses on key molecules that play an important role in the formation of the cumulus ECM, generated by the oocyte-cumulus complex. In particular, the specific inhibitors (AG1478, lapatinib, indomethacin and MG132) and progesterone...

PTX3 plays a key role in the organization of the cumulus oophorus extracellular matrix and in in vivo fertilization.

PTX3 is a prototypic long pentraxin that plays a non-redundant role in innate immunity against selected pathogens and in female fertility. Here, we report that the infertility of Ptx3(-/-) mice is associated with severe abnormalities of the cumulus oophorus and failure of in vivo, but not in vitro, oocyte fertilization. PTX3 is produced by mouse cumulus cells during cumulus expansion and locali...

PTX3 plays a key role in the organization of the cumulus oophrus extracellular matrix and in in vivo fertilization

The extracellular calcium-sensing receptor is expressed in the cumulus-oocyte complex in mammals and modulates oocyte meiotic maturation.

The extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CASR) plays an important role in cells involved in calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis by directly sensing changes in the extracellular Ca2+ ion concentration. We previously reported the localization and quantitative expression of CASR protein in human oocytes. In this study, we examined the expression and the functional role of CASR during oocyte meiotic matu...