Human Reproduction Update, Vol.10, No.1 pp.53-65, 2004
© European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology 2004; all rights reserved
Electrical events during gamete maturation and fertilization in animals and humans
1 Laboratory of Cell Biology, Stazione Zoologica, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples and 2 Department of Animal Science, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy 3 To whom correspondence should be addressed: e-mail: tosti{at}szn.it
Gamete cells are electrogenic, i.e. capable of responding to electrical stimuli and modifying their electrical properties during the crucial periods of maturation and fertilization. Ion channels have been widely demonstrated on the plasma membrane of the oocyte and spermatozoon in all animals studied, and electrical modifications in gametes are due to ion currents that are modulated via these ion channels. The modification of intracellular calcium levels in gametes has been extensively studied, and these modifications are recognized to be a second messenger system for gamete maturation and fertilization. Other ions also move through the plasma membrane, either in association with or independent of calcium, and these generate typical features such as fertilization currents and oscillation of resting potential. These modifications were first studied in marine invertebrates, and the observations subsequently compared with mammalian systems, including human. The precise role played by these currents in the processes of maturation and fertilization is still poorly understood; however, recent research opens new frontiers for their clinical and technological application.
Key words: electrophysiology/fertilization/gamete maturation/ion channels/ion currents
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  T. De Santis, V. Casavola, S. J. Reshkin, L. Guerra, B. Ambruosi, N. Fiandanese, R. Dalbies-Tran, G. Goudet, and M. E. Dell'Aquila The extracellular calcium-sensing receptor is expressed in the cumulus-oocyte complex in mammals and modulates oocyte meiotic maturation Reproduction, September 1, 2009; 138(3): 439 - 452. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C.-G. Hur, C. Choe, G.-T. Kim, S.-K. Cho, J.-Y. Park, S.-G. Hong, J. Han, and D. Kang Expression and localization of two-pore domain K+ channels in bovine germ cells Reproduction, February 1, 2009; 137(2): 237 - 244. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S.-W. Dessie, F. Rings, M. Holker, M. Gilles, D. Jennen, E. Tholen, V. Havlicek, U. Besenfelder, V. L Sukhorukov, U. Zimmermann, et al. Dielectrophoretic behavior of in vitro-derived bovine metaphase II oocytes and zygotes and its relation to in vitro embryonic developmental competence and mRNA expression pattern Reproduction, May 1, 2007; 133(5): 931 - 946. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|