Question

Short / Long Answer question Type :
Write short notes on Capacitation

Answer 1

In some lower animals, sperms are not capable of fertilizing ovum immediately after being ejaculated, but they develop this capability during the next few hours. This phenomenon is known as capacitation. It is the last step in the maturation of mammalian spermatozoa and is required to provide the ability to fertilize an oocyte. This step is a biochemical event firstly, the sperm moves normally and looks mature prior to capacitation. The changes take place by the sperm cell membrane in which it may be possible that receptors are made available through the removal of a glycoprotein layer. The area of the acrosomal cap is also so altered so that the acrosome reaction becomes possible.