Human Sperm Binding to Transgenic Mouse Eggs

Completed

Conditions studied: Fertilization

In brief

At fertilization, the binding of sperm to the zona pellucida induces the acrosome reaction releasing lytic enzymes that facilitate the passage of the sperm through the zona. The sperm then fuses with the egg's plasm membrane and enters the egg's cytoplasm. The zona pellucida, an extracellular matrix composed of three glycoproteins (ZP1, ZP2, ZP3), mediates the species-specific binding of sperm to egg. Although homologous proteins are present in mouse and humans, human sperm will not bind to the mouse zona pellucida and when the zona pellucida is experimentally removed, human sperm will not bind or fuse to the mouse egg's plasm membrane. We have created transgenic mouse lines that express one or more human zona proteins. We wish to determine if human sperm will bind to these chimeric zonae and if this binding will induce the human sperm acrosome reaction. Sperm and devitalized eggs will be collected by collaborating institution(s) under protocols and consent forms approved by that institution's IRB. Only procedures already being performed on subjects for diagnostic or treatment purposes will be used.

Key facts

Study ID
NCT00340587
Run by
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
People needed
13
Starts
1997-05-02
Expected to finish
2016-02-24
Last updated by the study team
2018-04-05

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

Where it is running

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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