English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Although mammalian spermatozoa only acquire functional maturity as they are conveyed through the male (epididymal maturation) and female (capacitation) reproductive tracts, the degree of post-testicular development necessary to achieve fertilization in other vertebrate species remains far less clear. Indeed, despite reports that the epididymis of birds and reptiles is capable of secreting proteins that bind and modify the sperm surface characteristics, it remains unclear whether capacitation is a pre-requisite for fertilization in these species. Using the ancient reptilian Australian saltwater crocodile as a model, this study was undertaken to explore whether reptile sperm do undergo capacitation-like changes following ejaculation. Our studies revealed that crocodile spermatozoa experienced a rapid and sustained, cyclic-AMP mediated increase in progressive motility following incubation under conditions optimized for the induction of capacitation in mammalian species such as the mouse and human. This response was coupled with elevated levels of phosphorylation associated with both protein kinase A and tyrosine kinase substrates, the latter of which were predominantly localized within the sperm flagellum. In findings that also accord with mammalian spermatozoa, we confirmed a homologue of outer dense fibre 2 as one of the principal substrates for tyrosine phosphorylation. Overall, our findings support the concept that crocodile spermatozoa do undergo a process that is homologous to capacitation in preparation for fertilization of an ovum.

proceedings - royal society. biological sciences/proceedings - royal society. biological sciences

The Australian saltwater crocodile (<i>Crocodylus porosus</i>) provides evidence that the capacitation of spermatozoa may extend beyond the mammalian lineage

The Australian saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) provides evidence that the capacitation of spermatozoa may extend beyond the mammalian lineage