BACKGROUND Spermatozoa acquire the ability to fertilize an oocyte when they become capacitated. Capacitation takes place when sperm pass through the female reproductive tract, interacting with female fluids. Both tyrosine phosphorylation of sperm proteins and the ability to respond to acrosome reaction (AR) inducers have been associated with sperm capacitation. Recent data indicate that conditi...

The role of Na(+) fluxes through voltage-gated sodium channels in the regulation of sperm cell function remains poorly understood. Previously, we reported that several genes encoding voltage-gated Na(+) channels were expressed in human testis and mature spermatozoa. In this study, we analyzed the presence and function of the TTX-resistant VGSC α subunit Nav1.8 in human capacitated sperm cells. ...

Background: The aim of this study was to construct a recombinant vector of human sperm specific VDAC3 gene for production of VDAC3 antibody, which is potential as male contraception vaccine. Methods: Target fragment sequence of VDAC3 gene was obtained through amplification of human sperm VDAC3 cDNA with primers covering exon 5 to exon 8. Its PCR product in size of 435 bp was cloned to the pET10...

A major secretory protein of the human epididymis that is taken up by maturing spermatozoa is homologous to the leukocyte antigen CD52. The epididymis was shown to be the sole source of CD52 in seminal fluid, since CD52 could be detected in seminal plasma from sperm-containing ejaculates and not in ejaculates of vasectomized patients by Western blot analysis. The glycoprotein is not expressed i...

CD52 is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored glycoprotein secreted by the epididymis where it is incorporated into sperm membranes. The antigen is common to spermatozoa and lymphocytes, and its role is not known. Quantitative analysis using immunostaining with the monoclonal antibody CAMPATH-1G and flow cytometry indicated positive signals from approximately 80% of viable, washed ejaculated ...

Internal fertilization ensures successful reproduction of tetrapod vertebrates on land, although how this mode of reproduction evolved is unknown. Here, we identified a novel gene encoding sperm motility-initiating substance (SMIS), a key protein for the internal fertilization of the urodele Cynops pyrrhogaster by Edman degradation of an isolated protein and subsequent reverse transcription pol...

We have examined the behavior of demembranated sperm heads when injected into the germinal vesicle (GV) of amphibian oocytes. Xenopus sperm heads injected into Xenopus GVs swelled immediately and within hours began to stain with an antibody against RNA polymerase II (Pol II). Over time each sperm head became a loose mass of chromosome-like threads, which by 24-48 h resolved into individually re...