Function of the acrosomal matrix: zona pellucida 3 receptor (ZP3R/sp56) is not essential for mouse fertilization.

ABSTRACT: In mammalian fertilization, sperm-zona pellucida binding is considered to be a critical aspect of gamete interaction. In this study, we examine the mouse sperm acrosomal matrix protein zona pellucida 3 receptor (ZP3R; formerly called sp56) because of our interest in defining the function of the acrosomal matrix, the particulate compartment within the sperm secretory acrosome. Using targeted deletion of the Zp3r gene by homologous recombination, we examined the fertility of nullizygous animals. Our experiments showed that males and females homozygous for the affected gene exhibited no differences in litter sizes compared to wild-type and heterozygous animals. Testis weights of nullizygous males were equivalent to those of wild-type and heterozygous males, and no differences in the number of

SUBMITTER: Muro Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3313668 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature