Budget Amount *help |
¥4,420,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,020,000)
Fiscal Year 2010: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000)
Fiscal Year 2009: ¥3,120,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥720,000)
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Research Abstract |
Male mice lacking a testis-specific serine protease, PRSS21, GPI-anchored on the sperm membranes exhibit normal fertility. However, the fertility in vitro is noticeably impaired by the loss of PRSS21 on the sperm. In this study, I found that the reduced in vitro fertility of PRSS21-deficient sperm is recovered by addition of mouse uterine fluids. Similar experimental results were obtained in uterine fluids of rat and rabbit. These data suggest that the female reproductive tract may assist ejaculated sperm to fertilize the oocytes.
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