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PLCζ is the physiological trigger of the Ca2+ oscillations that induce embryogenesis in mammals but offspring can be conceived in its absence
- Source :
- Development.
- Publication Year :
- 2017
- Publisher :
- The Company of Biologists, 2017.
-
Abstract
- Activation of the egg by the sperm is the first, vital stage of embryogenesis. The sperm protein PLCζ has been proposed as the physiological agent that triggers the Ca2+ oscillations that normally initiate embryogenesis. Consistent with this, recombinant PLCζ induces Ca2+ oscillations in eggs and debilitating mutations in the PLCZ1 gene are associated with infertility in men. However, there has been no evidence that knockout of the gene encoding PLCζ abolishes the ability of sperm to induce Ca2+ oscillations in eggs. Here, we show that sperm derived from Plcz1-/- male mice fail to trigger Ca2+ oscillations in eggs, cause polyspermy and thus demonstrate that PLCζ is the physiological trigger of these Ca2+ oscillations. Remarkably, some eggs fertilized by PLCζ-null sperm can develop, albeit at greatly reduced efficiency, and after a significant time-delay. In addition, Plcz1-/- males are subfertile but not sterile, suggesting that in the absence of PLCζ, spontaneous egg activation can eventually occur via an alternative route. This is the first demonstration that in vivo fertilization without the normal physiological trigger of egg activation can result in offspring. PLCζ-null sperm now make it possible to resolve long-standing questions in fertilization biology, and to test the efficacy and safety of procedures used to treat human infertility.
- Subjects :
- 0301 basic medicine
Genetics
Infertility
030219 obstetrics & reproductive medicine
Offspring
Embryogenesis
Oocyte activation
Embryo
Biology
medicine.disease
Polyspermy
Sperm
Cell biology
03 medical and health sciences
030104 developmental biology
0302 clinical medicine
Human fertilization
medicine
Molecular Biology
Developmental Biology
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14779129 and 09501991
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Development
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....d94325c3c0ba482dabecad80b00d4f5f