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Fertilization

Fertilization

During fertilization, an egg and sperm cell fuse to create a new diploid structure. In humans, the process occurs once the egg has been released from the ovary, and travels into the fallopian tubes. The process requires several key steps: 1) sperm present in the genital tract must locate the egg; 2) once there, sperm need to release enzymes to help them burrow through the protective zona pellucida of the egg; and 3) the membranes of a single sperm cell and egg must fuse, with the sperm...

Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration

Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration

Calcium is an essential signaling molecule required for various cellular functions. Calcium pumps and ion channels on cell and organellar membranes, such as those on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), regulate calcium concentrations inside the cell. They remain closed, keeping the cytosolic calcium levels low at a resting state.
Various transmembrane receptors, such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), elicit a response to extracellular signals by increasing cytosolic calcium. Activated GPCRs...

Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle

Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle

The ovarian cycle regulates endometrial changes throughout a single menstrual cycle via the coordinated action of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotrophins.
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Spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis is the process by which haploid sperm cells are produced in the male testes. It starts with stem cells located close to the outer rim of seminiferous tubules. These spermatogonial stem cells divide asymmetrically to give rise to additional stem cells (meaning that these structures “self-renew”), as well as sperm progenitors, called spermatocytes. Importantly, this method of asymmetric mitotic division maintains a population of spermatogonial stem cells in the male reproductive...

Understanding Species and Reproductive Barriers

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A species is a group of organisms that interbreed and produce fertile offspring. Typically, individuals of the same species appear similar and share common characteristics due to their highly similar genomes. However, not all organisms that look alike are members of the same species. Various mechanisms keep most species discrete. While some mechanisms prevent reproductive behavior and fertilization (pre-zygotic isolation), others prevent the production of fertile offspring after mating has...

Cleavage and Blastulation

Cleavage and Blastulation

After a large-single-celled zygote is produced via fertilization, the process of cleavage occurs while zygotes travel through the uterine tube. Cleavage is a mitotic cell division that does not result in growth. With each round of successive cell division, daughter cells get increasingly smaller.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca2+-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm

Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca²⁺-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm

Published on: March 1, 2019

Molecular events that regulate mammalian fertilization.

D R P Tulsiani¹, A Abou-Haila

¹Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA. daulat.tulsiani@vanderbilt.edu

Minerva Ginecologica

|April 22, 2011

Summary

Sperm undergo critical modifications for fertilization, requiring capacitation and acrosome-intact binding to the egg. Calcium signaling regulates sperm function and male fertility, with ongoing research into fertility-regulating sperm molecules.

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Last Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca2+-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm

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Published on: January 14, 2021

Area of Science:

Reproductive Biology
Molecular Biology
Cell Biology

Background:

Mammalian fertilization involves the fusion of sperm and egg, a process requiring extensive sperm modification.
Sperm maturation occurs in the testis and epididymis, followed by capacitation in the female reproductive tract.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the biological processes of sperm development, maturation, capacitation, and sperm-egg interaction.
To discuss the role of calcium signaling in regulating sperm function and male fertility.
To highlight sperm molecules currently researched for male fertility regulation.

Main Methods:

Review of existing data from multiple laboratories.
Analysis of molecular events in sperm development and function.
Discussion of signaling pathways involved in fertilization.

Main Results:

Capacitated, acrosome-intact sperm bind the zona pellucida via receptor-ligand interactions.
Sperm-egg binding triggers calcium influx, initiating the acrosome reaction and enzyme release.
Acrosomal enzymes and hyperactivated motility facilitate sperm penetration of the zona pellucida.

Conclusions:

Sperm modification, capacitation, and the acrosome reaction are essential for fertilization.
Calcium signaling pathways are crucial regulators of sperm function and male fertility.
Targeting specific sperm molecules holds promise for male fertility interventions.