Syllabus
Male and female reproductive tracts, reproductive organs. Sex hormones. Spermatogenesis, oogenesis. Gamete structure.
Sperm plasma membrane, sperm maturation in the epididymis, epididymal proteins, seminal plasma proteins.
Characterization of proteins of spermatozoa and seminal plasma. Spermadhesins, sperm surface proteins and their role in reproduction.
Oviduct: oviductal fluid secretion, formation of sperm oviductal reservoir, capacitation and hyperactivation of sperm motility.
Cumulus oophorus: structure, function, sperm penetration through cumular cells.
Sperm acrosome: acrosomal enzymes; proteinases a their inhibitors in reproduction.
Zona pellucida: structure, function and properties.
Sperm-egg interaction: primary and secundary binding of spermatozoa to zona pellucida of the egg.
Acrosomal exocytosis, sperm penetration through the zona pellucida; plasma membarne gamete fusion, cortical reaction, polyspermy block, egg activation.
References:
Eddy EM and O´Brien DA: The Spermatozoon. In Physiology of Reproduction. E. Knobil and J.D. Neill (eds). New York, Raven Press, 1994, pp.29-78 (ISBN 0-7817-0086-8)
Wassarman and Albertini DF: The Mammalian Ovum. In Physiology of Reproduction. E. Knobil and J.D. Neill (eds). New York, Raven Press, 1994, pp.79-122 (ISBN 0-7817-0086-8)
Yanagimachi R: Mammalian Fertilization. In Physiology of Reproduction. E. Knobil and J.D. Neill (eds). New York, Raven Press, 1994, pp.189-317 (ISBN 0-7817-0086-8)
Gilbert SF: Chapter 7 Fertilization: Beginning a new organism. In Developmental Biology. Gilbert SF (ed). Sinauer Associates, Inc., Publishers, Sunderland, Massachusetts, 2003, pp.181-220 (ISBN 0-87893-258-5)
The Male Gamete: From Basic Science to Clinical Applications. Gagnon C (ed). Cache River Press, 1999 (ISBN 1-889899-03-8)
Annotation
The lecture "Biochemistry of mammalian fertilization" is aimed for students of biochemistry, biology and medicine who are interested in complex process of mammalian reproduction. The lecture biochemically elucidate events taking part in sperm maturation, in recognition and binding of both gametes and penetration of sperm into ovum.
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