Lipidic microdomain reorganization during the in vitro capacitation of boar spermatozoa

摘要

The spermatozoa of eutherian organisms, after ejaculation, must undergo a series of morpho-functional modifications, know as capacitation, to complete the acquisition of fertilizing ability (Yanagimachi 1994). These events involve changes in the intracellular ionic concentration, in the production of molecules acting as second messengers and in the motility pattern (Baldi et al. 1996). In this context the remodelling of sperm plasma membrane composition and architecture plays a pivotal role (Gadella and Harrison 2002). Recently, in the spermatozoa of different species, specific lipid microdomains resistant to the action of detergents (Detergent Resistant Membranes, DRM) have been identified and their role in the acquisition of fertilizing ability has been hypothesized (Thaler et al. 2006).