Regulation of sperm capacitation through control of sperm membrane sterol levels by seminal vesicle secretory proteins.

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09721
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56030:Urology-related
• Research Institution: Toin University of Yokohama
• Principal Investigator: Yoshida Kaoru 桐蔭横浜大学, 医用工学部, 教授 (70398973)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 吉田 学 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科(理学部), 准教授 (60301785)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 精子 / 糖衣 / 精嚢分泌タンパク質 / 卵管 / 受精能獲得

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Although the efflux of cholesterol from the sperm membrane is triggered during the capacitation, the physiological regulatory mechanism is unknown. We have previously shown that seminal vesicle secretory proteins actively maintain cholesterol levels in the sperm membrane. We hypothesize that this action suppresses ectopic fertilization potential acquisition, but the molecular mechanism is not clear. In this study, mouse utero-tubal junction (UTJ) was cultured for a short time and tissue transparency enabled observation of sperm binding to the oviductal epithelium. In addition, lectin arrays of sperm cell membrane extracts were performed, and it was shown that the sperm cell membrane structure of glycan chains is altered in conjunction with the removal of cholesterol by MbCD and the regulation of the process of fertilization ability acquisition by the presence of sperm seminal vesicle secretory protein SVS2.

Free Research Field

生殖生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

我々を含むほ乳類に共通の体内受精の仕組みを理解することは、挙児を希望するカップルに安全かつ有効な生殖補助医療を提供する基礎となる。特に、本研究のこれまで顧みられることの少なかった精漿成分の体内受精における生理的な役割を明らかにする試みは生殖補助医療への応用も期待できる重要な知見である。