Signal transduction processes leading to acrosomal exocytosis in mammalian spermatozoa

Many components of intercellular signaling involved in species-specific sperm binding to the egg's extracellular matrix, the zona pellucida, and the induction of acrosomal exocytosis, an absolute prerequisite to successful fertilization, have properties similar to intercellular signaling mechanisms controlling somatic cell function. Sperm-associated receptors for zona pellucida glycoproteins have been postulated to serve as the initial components of signal transduction cascades leading to the stimulation of cellular effector systems that modulate sperm function. Such receptor-effector systems appear to be coupled through guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G proteins).