Characterization of A Uterine Factor in Fertilization

2010 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21700445
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Laboratory animal science
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: YAMASHITA Misuzu University of Tsukuba, 大学院・生命環境科学研究科, 研究員 (90451690)
• Project Period (FY): 2009 – 2010
• Keywords: 生殖 / 受精 / 応用動物 / マウス / 精子

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.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Mice lacking two sperm serine proteases, ACR and PRSS21, are subfertile, but the mutant sperm are infertile (2010)
  • Author(s): Kawano, N., Kang, W., Yamashita, M., Koga, Y., Yamazaki, T., Hata, T., Miyado, M., Baba, T.
  • Journal Title: Biol. Reprod. 83in vitro. Pages: 359-369
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Functional roles of mouse sperm hyaluronidases, HYAL5 and SPAM1, in fertilization. (2009)
  • Author(s): Kimura. M., Kim. E., Kang W. T., Yamashita, M., Saigo. M., Yamazaki. T., Nakanishi. T., Kashiwabara, S., Baba T.
  • Journal Title: Biol. Reprod. 81 Pages: 939-947
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] 経産マウスにおける着床位置決定機構の解析 (2010)
  • Author(s): 山下美鈴, 馬場忠
  • Organizer: 第33回日本分子生物学会年会(BMB2010)
  • Place of Presentation: 神戸ポートアイランド
  • Year and Date: 2010-12-09
• [Presentation] Effects of placental scars on implantation sites in multiparous mice. (2010)
  • Author(s): Yamashita, M., Baba, T.
  • Organizer: Gordon Research Conference Reproductive Tract Biology
  • Place of Presentation: New Hampshire, Holderness School, USA.
  • Year and Date: 2010-08-17
• [Presentation] 子宮内因子による受精能回復機構の解析 (2009)
  • Author(s): 山下美鈴、馬場忠
  • Organizer: 第82回日本生化学学会大会
  • Place of Presentation: 神戸ポートアイランド
  • Year and Date: 2009-10-23
• [Presentation] Functional effects of uterine fluids on PRSS21-deficient sperm. (2009)
  • Author(s): Yamashita, M., Kang, W., Kashiwabara, S., Baba, T.
  • Organizer: Gordon Research Conference on Fertilization & Activation of Development.
  • Place of Presentation: New Hampshire, Holderness School, USA.
  • Year and Date: 2009-07-20
• [Remarks] ホームページ等
  • URL: http://www.acroman.org/