The overall objective is to provide critical information on the physiology and biochemistry of sperm interactions with the egg investments (cumulus oophorus (CO) and zona pellucida (ZP)).
Specific aims are (1) to determine where the fertilizing spermatozoon undergoes the acrosome reaction (AR) in relation to penetration of the egg investments. This question will be studied using video-micrography to record acrosomal changes (AR) in sperm as they penetrate egg investments in vitro. (2) To elucidate the functional significance and relative roles of the CO and ZP in stimulating the AR in fertilizing sperm. This will be done using a highly defined in vitro fertilization procedure. (3) To characterize the chemical nature of the acrosome reaction-inducing factor (ARIF) found in the gamete interactions at low sperm:egg ratios in order to probe the penetration of intact CO in vitro; (b) examination of the functional roles of egg investments in supporting sperm fertilizing ability; (c) investigation of the functional significance for AR-induction of the ZP separately from that of the CO; and (d) evaluation of the possible potentiation of ZP-ARIF by CO-ARIF. In addition, (e) we are able to capacitate spermatozoa under completely chemically-defined conditions, i.e., in the absence of biologically-active proteins such as serum albumin, which can confound attempts to examine naturally-occurring sources of ARIF. Taken together, the experiments will fill in some fundamental gaps in present knowledge about the interactions of the egg investments with spermatozoa, with particular emphasis on their roles in regulating sperm fertilizing ability.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HD014235-07
Application #
3312543
Study Section
Reproductive Biology Study Section (REB)
Project Start
1979-09-30
Project End
1989-06-30
Budget Start
1987-07-01
Budget End
1988-06-30
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Type
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715
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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