Abstract

The functional significance will be investigated of physiological and biochemical changes taking place during acquisition of fertilizing ability by spermatozoa. These processes will be studied using new methodology made possible in part by discoveries in our laboratory. The functional relationship between the acrosome reaction and sperm penetration of the egg investments (granulosa cell layer and zona pellucida) will be investigated using a micro-incubation in vitro fertilization system that we have devised, featuring chemically defined factors that sustain sperm motility. This system will permit the fertilizing sperm to be identified and details of its acrosomal condition to be recorded as it traverses the egg investments. Information will also be provided on the location within the egg-cumulus complex of the putatuve acrosome-reaction inducing factor. This information could eventually assist elucidation of the mechanism of the acrosome reaction, which is presently unknown. Related studies will be performed to examine biochemical parameters of sperm capacitation/acrosome reactions (cyclic nucleotide and phospholipid changes, and pharmacological parameters) using a new technique that permits comparative data to be obtained on highly motile but non-capacitated sperm. This study will focus critically on biochemical properties of sperm and events that are directly concerned in the capacitation/acrosome reaction sequence. The overall study will provide new, precise data on processes taking place in sperm that lead to fertilization; at present these mechanisms are obscure. Such information is urgently needed in order to facilitate productive research on the alteration of human fertility characteristics.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01HD014235-05S1
Application #
3312540
Study Section
Reproductive Biology Study Section (REB)
Project Start
1979-09-30
Project End
1985-05-31
Budget Start
1984-03-01
Budget End
1985-05-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Type
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715

  Publications

Kito, S; Bavister, B D (1997) Male pronuclear formation and early embryonic development of hamster oocytes matured in vitro with gonadotrophins, amino acids and cysteamine. J Reprod Fertil 110:35-46
Boatman, D E (1997) Responses of gametes to the oviductal environment. Hum Reprod 12:133-49
Kito, S; Bavister, B D (1997) Gonadotropins, serum, and amino acids alter nuclear maturation, cumulus expansion, and oocyte morphology in hamster cumulus-oocyte complexes in vitro. Biol Reprod 56:1281-9
Kito, S; Bavister, B D (1996) Kinetics of sperm penetration and fertilization in vitro in hamster follicular and oviductal ova. J Exp Zool 274:373-83
Kito, S; Bavister, B (1996) Maturation of hamster oocytes under chemically defined conditions and sperm penetration through the zona pellucida. Zygote 4:199-210
Andrews, J C; Nolan, J P; Hammerstedt, R H et al. (1995) Characterization of N-(6-methoxy-8-quinolyl)-p-toluenesulfonamide for the detection of zinc in living sperm cells. Cytometry 21:153-9
Libersky, E A; Boatman, D E (1995) Progesterone concentrations in serum, follicular fluid, and oviductal fluid of the golden hamster during the periovulatory period. Biol Reprod 53:477-82
Libersky, E A; Boatman, D E (1995) Effects of progesterone on in vitro sperm capacitation and egg penetration in the golden hamster. Biol Reprod 53:483-7
Boatman, D E; Magnoni, G E (1995) Identification of a sperm penetration factor in the oviduct of the golden hamster. Biol Reprod 52:199-207
Andrews, J C; Nolan, J P; Hammerstedt, R H et al. (1994) Role of zinc during hamster sperm capacitation. Biol Reprod 51:1238-47

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