I-8: Role of Sperm Transcripts in Oocyte Activation, Fertilization and Development

It is well established that in addition to generating the diploid state in the zygote, the sperm also endows the oocyte with paternal centrioles, proteins and RNAs. Although the exact roles of mRNA introduced into the oocyte by the sperm are not completely understood. However, literature background, suggested that RNAs may have a vital role in embryo cleavage and further development. Therefore, the RNA content of the sperm has been divided into three categories: non-functional, functional and foreign mRNA. Moreover, comparative sperm transcriptoms of fertile and infertile has revealed substantial difference in expression pattern of some genes. Thereby, confirming the fact that there are huge mRNA content differences between fertile and infertile individuals. In this study we assessed the expression of PLCz and PAWP involved in oocyte activation in fertile, individual with zero and low fertilization rate, individuals with high fertilization rate and globozoospermia. The results revealed that expression level of these transcripts may be used to predict the potential of sperms in semen sample, to induce oocyte activation and thereby result in successful fertilization.