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Updated: May 26, 2026

Phosphopeptide Analysis of Rodent Epididymal Spermatozoa
Published on: December 30, 2014
Hyper-activated motility in sperm capacitation is mediated by phospholipase D-dependent actin polymerization
Sarit Bar-Sheshet Itach1, Maya Finklestein, Nir Etkovitz
1The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University Ramat-Gan, 52900, Israel.
Phospholipase D (PLD)-dependent actin polymerization is crucial for sperm motility during capacitation. This process is essential for sperm to fertilize an egg, enabling hyper-activated motility (HAM) and the acrosome reaction (AR).
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Cellular Biochemistry
- Sperm Physiology
Background:
- Sperm capacitation involves biochemical changes enabling fertilization.
- Actin polymerization and hyper-activated motility (HAM) are key events in capacitation.
- The role of Phospholipase D (PLD)-dependent actin polymerization in capacitation was previously unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of PLD-dependent actin polymerization in sperm motility during mouse and human capacitation.
- To determine the impact of inhibiting Phosphatidic Acid (PA) formation on sperm function.
- To assess the effect of exogenous PA on sperm capacitation and fertilization.
Main Methods:
- Sperm were incubated under capacitation conditions.
- Actin polymerization and HAM were measured over time.
- The effects of PLD inhibition (butan-1-ol) and PA supplementation on sperm motility, acrosome reaction (AR), and in vitro fertilization (IVF) were evaluated.
Main Results:
- Capacitation increased actin polymerization and HAM in a time-dependent manner.
- PLD inhibition blocked actin polymerization, HAM, AR, and IVF.
- PA supplementation restored HAM and enhanced actin polymerization, AR, and IVF rates.
Conclusions:
- PLD-dependent actin polymerization is essential for developing HAM during sperm capacitation in mice and humans.
- This pathway plays a critical role in sperm's ability to fertilize an oocyte.
- Targeting PLD may offer new strategies for fertility treatments.
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