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The Pattern of Tyrosine Phosphorylation in Human Sperm in Response to Binding to Zona Pellucida or Hyaluronic Acid

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Abstract

In mammalian species, acquisition of sperm fertilization competence is dependent on the phenomenon of sperm capacitation. One of the key elements of capacitation is protein tyrosine phosphorylation (TP) in various sperm membrane regions. In previous studies performed, the pattern of TP was examined in human sperm bound to zona pellucida of oocytes. In the present comparative study, TP patterns upon sperm binding to the zona pellucida or hyaluronic acid (HA) were investigated in spermatozoa arising from the same semen samples. Tyrosine phosphorylation, visualized by immunofluorescence, was localized within the acrosomal cap, equatorial head region, neck, and the principal piece. Tyrosine phosphorylation has increased in a time-related manner as capacitation progressed, and the phosphorylation pattern was identical within the principal piece and neck, regardless of the sperm bound to the zona pellucida or HA. Thus, the data demonstrated that the patterns of sperm activation-related TP were similar regardless of the spermatozoa bound to zona pellucida or HA. Further, sperm with incomplete development, as detected by excess cytoplasmic retention, failed to exhibit TP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Histology and Embryology, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey

    Leyla Sati MSc, PhD

  2. Department of Histology and Embryology, Gaziosmanpasa University School of Medicine, Tokat, Turkey

    Sevil Cayli MSc, PhD

  3. GINTEAM Unit of Minimally Invasive Gynaecology, Turin, Italy

    Elena Delpiano MD

  4. Boston IVF, MA, Waltham, USA

    Denny Sakkas PhD

  5. The Sperm Physiology Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, CT, New Haven, USA

    Gabor Huszar MD

Authors
  1. Leyla Sati MSc, PhD
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  2. Sevil Cayli MSc, PhD
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  3. Elena Delpiano MD
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  4. Denny Sakkas PhD
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  5. Gabor Huszar MD
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Correspondence to Gabor Huszar MD.

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Sati, L., Cayli, S., Delpiano, E. et al. The Pattern of Tyrosine Phosphorylation in Human Sperm in Response to Binding to Zona Pellucida or Hyaluronic Acid. Reprod. Sci. 21, 573–581 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719113504467

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719113504467

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