α-L-fucosidase enhances capacitation-associated events in porcine spermatozoa.
The activity of α-L-fucosidase in oviductal fluid increases around the time of ovulation. α-L-fucosidase is also associated with the spermatozoal plasma membrane and its substrate, fucose, has been identified in the zona pellucida (ZP) and on the spermatozoal surface, suggesting a role in fertilisation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of exogenous α-L-fucosidase during fertilisation. Porcine oocytes were incubated with fucosidase and later subjected to in vitro fertilisation (IVF). No effect on the percentage of oocytes fertilised was observed, although there was a slight decrease in spermatozoa-ZP binding. Fucosidase was then added to IVF medium, and spermatozoa and oocytes were co-incubated for 15 min. A significant increase in spermatozoa-ZP binding and penetration was observed, suggesting a role of the enzyme in the fertilisation ability of spermatozoa. In addition, fluorescence intensity and the patterns of spermatozoa membrane-associated α-L-fucosidase distribution, as assessed by indirect immunofluorescence, were not affected by the presence or absence of exogenous enzyme, suggesting an independent role for the exogenous and spermatozoa-associated enzymes. Addition of exogenous α-L-fucosidase increased the spermatozoal intracellular ionised calcium concentration and tyrosine phosphorylation, suggesting a role in promoting capacitation and, at the same time, protecting spermatozoa from a premature acrosome reaction. Thus, α-L-fucosidase enhances capacitation-associated events in porcine spermatozoa.
['Romero-Aguirregomezcorta|Jon|J|', 'Matás|Carmen|C|', 'Coy|Pilar|P|']
D000818:Animals D005307:Fertilization in Vitro D008297:Male D009865:Oocytes D013075:Sperm Capacitation D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions D013094:Spermatozoa D013552:Swine D015044:Zona Pellucida D005644:alpha-L-Fucosidase
α-L-fucosidase Porcine Spermatozoa Oviduct Fertilisation Gamete biology