# STUDIES ON SPERM FERTILIZING ABILITY

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 1993 · $127,731

## Abstract

The overall objective of the proposed research is to provide new
information on the regulation of sperm:egg interaction in mammals by
components of the normal oviductal milieu.  This information is needed for
a more complete understanding of the way that gamete interactions are
facilitated and coordinated at the site of fertilization in vivo.
Increased knowledge of these regulatory mechanisms could assist the
development of improved methods for amelioration of infertility in humans
and for fertility control.  Specific aims are (i) to identify molecules
modulating terminal events of sperm:zona interactions and acrosome
reactions, and to differentiate their sites of production (follicle or
oviduct); (ii) to isolate and identify a heat labile oviductal factor that
facilitates sperm penetration into zonae pellucidae, and to determine its
mechanism of action; and (iii) to isolate and identify a heat stable factor
present in the ovulated cumulus oophorus that facilitates acrosome
reactions in free-swimming (i.e., non-zona bound) sperm.  The research will
use well-defined in vitro fertilization techniques to examine details of
the regulatory mechanisms with golden hamster gametes.  Hamster epididymal
spermatozoa will be capacitated in vitro, then incubated for 60 or 90 min
with living or salt-stored follicular or ovulated eggs.  These eggs and/or
sperm will be treated with impure or (later) purified heat labile and/or
heat stable factors and the effects on sperm penetration of the zonae
pellucidae will be evaluated; differential responses with these
preparations will provide detailed information about the functions and
mechanisms of action of the factors.  Sperm acrosome reactions will be
monitored using fluorescent monoclonal antibodies.  The sites of production
and of functional activities of these factors will be localized using
polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies.  Factors will be isolated by standard
biochemical procedures, including SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
followed by western blotting, and identified using immunoenzymatic assay.
Tests will show if the factors' actions are enzyme-like or ligand-like.
The hypotheses will be tested that the factor(s) act as co-acrosome
reaction inducing factors, i.e., in synergism with zonae pellucidae, and
that the factors alter the physical characteristics of zonae pellucidae.
Possible homology between some of the oviductal factors and the oviductal
protein 'oviductin' will be examined.  It will be determined whether the
acrosome reaction inducing activity of the heat-stable factor can be
ascribed to a macromolecule or to a ligand, such as progesterone, bound to
a macromolecule.  The results of these experiments will provide deeper
insights into the functional roles of these naturally-occurring factors,
and into their mechanisms of action in regulating events immediately
preceding egg penetration.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2197079
- **Project number:** 5R01HD014235-11
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **SAM.gov UEI:** LCLSJAGTNZQ7
- **Principal Investigator:** BARRY DOUGLAS BAVISTER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $127,731
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1979-09-30 → 1995-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2197079

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2197079, STUDIES ON SPERM FERTILIZING ABILITY (5R01HD014235-11). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2197079. Licensed CC0.

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