Molecular Human Reproduction, Vol 3, 175-194, Copyright © 1997 by Oxford University Press
E de Lamirande, P Leclerc and C Gagnon
Capacitation is defined as the series of transformations that spermatozoa
normally undergo during their migration through the female genital tract,
in order to reach and bind to the zona pellucida, undergo the acrosome
reaction, and fertilize the egg. During this process, extensive changes
occur in all sperm compartments (head and flagellum; membrane, cytosol,
cytoskeleton), factors originating from epididymal fluid and seminal plasma
are lost or redistributed and membrane lipids and proteins are reorganized;
ion fluxes induce biochemical modifications and controlled amounts of
reactive oxygen species are generated; spermatozoa develop hyperactivated
motility; and complex signal transduction mechanisms are initiated. The
main purpose of capacitation is to ensure that spermatozoa reach the eggs
at the appropriate time and in the appropriate state to fertilize these
eggs, by finely-controlling the rate of the changes necessary to prime
spermatozoa and by activating all the mechanisms needed for the subsequent
acrosome reaction. The reversibility of some of the mechanisms leading to
sperm capacitation may therefore be a very important aspect of the fine
regulation and perfect timing of this process.
REVIEW, ACADEMIC
Capacitation as a regulatory event that primes spermatozoa for the acrosome reaction and fertilization
Urology Research Laboratory, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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