颗粒细胞EGF类因子信号通路在调控卵母细胞成熟和发育中的作用

动物体内卵泡排卵前促黄体素(luteinizing hormone, LH)诱导了卵丘颗粒细胞扩散,并启动卵母细胞恢复减数分裂。普遍认为,卵泡壁层颗粒细胞表达LH受体,卵母细胞及其周围卵丘细胞不表达LH受体,LH通过作用于卵泡壁层颗粒细胞产生信号分子,这些信号分子作用于卵丘颗粒细胞介导了LH生物作用。然而,一直以来,关于排卵前介导LH作用而诱导卵母细胞成熟的机制一直存在争议。目前研究认为,LH作用于卵泡壁层颗粒细胞后产生了EGF类因子,并与颗粒细胞的受体结合,促进了卵母细胞的成熟和发育。由于体外成熟的卵丘卵母细胞复合体来源于生长卵泡,其卵丘颗粒细胞EGF类因子信号系统不完善,目前的体外成熟培养体系难以模拟卵泡内的生理环境,导致卵母细胞体外发育能力较差,限制了这些卵母细胞的利用效率。本文综述了颗粒细胞EGF类因子信号系统、EGF类因子在调控卵母细胞成熟中的作用及对卵母细胞发育能力的影响,为优化卵母细胞体外成熟培养体系,完善卵丘颗粒细胞的EGF类因子的信号系统,进而提高卵母细胞体外成熟效率提供理论依据。     

磷酸二酯酶5在小鼠卵巢内的表达

目的探讨cGMP特异性结合的磷酸二酯酶5（PDE5）在小鼠卵巢内的定位和表达情况。方法应用免疫组织化学对小鼠卵巢切片进行染色,检测PDE5在卵巢内不同部位的表达情况。利用Western blot检测PDE5在小鼠不同组织和细胞内的表达情况。结果PDE5在小鼠卵巢的黄体细胞（CL）和卵泡膜细胞（TC）上有强表达,卵母细胞（Oos）上以及大有腔卵泡的卵丘细胞（CCs）也有表达,而在小卵泡的颗粒细胞上没有表达。结论揭示了PDE5在小鼠卵巢内的表达情况,为进一步研究PDE5对卵巢功能的调节提供了生理学基础。     

影响猪体细胞核移植重构胚体外发育的若干因素

以卵丘细胞为核供体细胞组成重构胚,卵裂率达到56．7％,发育至桑椹胚达11．7％、孵化囊胚率为6．7％,显著高于成纤维细胞组成的重构胚（P＜0．05）。我们研究了卵母细胞的采集方法,激活方法和卵龄对卵丘细胞核移植重构胚体外发育的影响。以血清饥饿法将卵丘细胞诱导至G0或G1期,抽吸法／解剖法采集卵母细胞,体外培养33或44h,将卵丘细胞置于去核卵母细胞的卵周隙中,重构胚以钙离子载体A23817或电泳冲结合6－DMAP激活处理,体外培养6天,结果表明,卵 母细胞采集方法、激活液中细胞松弛素（CB）并不影响重构胚的发育（以卵龄44h的卵母细胞为受体）;而以电脉冲结合6－DMAP激活处理能提高重构胚发育能力（以卵龄33h的卵母细胞为受体）（P＜0．05）。本研究显示,以电脉冲结合6－DMAP激活卵丘细胞重构胚,能在体外发育至囊胚。     

生长分化因子-9对牛卵丘细胞增殖的影响

研究生长分化因子-9（growth differentiation factor-9,GDF-9）对牛卵丘细胞增殖的影响。采用MTT法检测不同浓度GDF-9对卵丘细胞增殖的影响,结果表明,GDF-9能促进卵丘细胞的增殖,且GDF-9与卵丘细胞增殖效应存在浓度梯度关系;在卵丘细胞增殖过程中,FSH在一定程度上与GDF-9发挥协同作用。在GDF-9和FSH的作用下,去除卵母细胞的卵丘细胞复合体（oocytectomized cumulus cell complexes,OOX）也可以保持较好的发育形态。实时定量PCR结果表明,随着GDF-9浓度的增加,卵丘细胞扩展相关基因PTX3、HAS2及PTGS2的表达量也增加。总之,以上的研究结果表明,GDF-9可以促进卵丘细胞的增殖,对卵丘细胞功能的发挥起着重要的作用。     

猪体细胞核移植重构胚的体外发育

以卵丘细胞为核供体细胞组成重构胚,卵裂率达到56．7％,发育至桑椹胚率达到11．7％,囊胚率为6．7％,显著高于成纤维细胞重构胚（P＜0．05）。本文还研究了卵母细胞的采集方法、激活程序和卵龄对卵丘细胞核移植重构胚体外发育的影响。以血清饥饿法将卵丘细胞诱导G0/G1期,抽吸法／解剖法采集卵母细胞,体外培养33－44h,将卵丘细胞放至去核卵母细胞的卵周隙中,重构胚以钙离子载体A23817或电脉冲结合6－DMAP激活处理,体外培养6d。研究表明,卵母细胞采集方法、激活液中细胞松驰素（CB）、激活程度并不影响重构胚的发育（以卵龄44h的卵母细胞为受体）;而以电脉冲结合6－DMAP激活处理能提高重构胚发育能力（以卵龄33h的卵母细胞为受体）（P＜0．05）。本研究显示,以电脉冲结合6－DMAP激活卵丘细胞重构胚,体外能发育至囊胚。     

c-erbB2与小鼠体外受精及作用机理研究

目的和方法：用免疫组织化学的方法观察ErbB2在小鼠睾丸、附睾、卵巢、输卵管、卵母细胞－卵丘细胞复合物及精子细胞上的分布。用不同浓度反义c-erbB2寡脱氧核苷酸（c-erbB2 ASODNs)与精子和卵母细胞－卵丘细胞复合物共孵育,观察其对小鼠体外受精率的影响,并进一步探讨其机制。结果：在附睾的小管上皮细胞的管腔面,卵丘细胞和精子的细胞膜上有ErbB2蛋白分布。c-erbB2 ASODNs呈剂量依赖方式抑制小鼠体外受精率。小鼠体外受精率在空白对照组、低、中、高浓度c-erbB2 ASODNs组、无义tat ODNs组分别为38．3％、19．6％、10．7％、5．0％、33．8％,同时伴有精子细胞上ErbB2免疫组化染色明显下降,中、高c-erbB2 ASODNs浓度组卵丘细胞贴壁生长受抑制。GABA和db cAMP均能增加精子小鼠体外受精率,两者均部分逆转c-erbB2 ASODNs对受精的抑制作用,但对精子细胞上ErbB2免疫组化染色均无明显影响,而Verapamil能抑制小鼠体外受精率,并协同c-erbB2 ASODNs的抑制作用,且使精子细胞膜上ErbB2免疫组化染色明显下降。结论：c-erbB2 ASODNs与受精密切相关,阻断Ca^2 内流后能通过抑制精子的c-erbB2表达,从而抑制小鼠体外受精,而GABA、dbcAMP可能不是通过c-erbB2来影响受精过程。     

屠宰绵羊卵巢卵母细胞的体外培养成熟

[目的] 探索把屠宰母羊卵巢卵母细胞在体外条件下培养成熟的有效处理方法和条件以便为体外受精技术的研究提供更多的成熟卵子。 [方法] 把从屠宰母羊新鲜卵巢的发育卵泡中采集的784枚卵母细胞分为3种类型,即A型(卵丘细胞层较完整的卵子)、B型(卵丘细胞层部分脱落的卵子)和C型(卵丘细胞、放射冠均脱落的裸卵)。并     

c-myb对小鼠体外受精的影响及作用机制的分析

目的: 本文采用免疫组织化学方法观察Myb转录因子家族成员c-myb蛋白在小鼠精子和卵母细胞-卵丘复合物中的分布.方法: 建立小鼠体外受精模型,用不同浓度反义c-myb寡脱氧核苷酸(c-myb ASODNs)与精子、卵母-卵丘细胞复合物共孵育观察其对小鼠体外受精率的影响,并进一步探讨c-myb ASODNs对小鼠体外受精率的影响机制.结果: 在颗粒细胞胞核和精子的头部有c-myb蛋白分布.c-myb ASODNs呈剂量依赖性抑制小鼠体外受精率(小鼠体外受精率在空白组、低、中、高浓度c-myb ASODNs组、无义tat ODNs组分别为34.97%、30.89%、20.14%、16.68%、34.47% ).GABA、P4、Verapamil和dbcAMP与c-myb ASODNs共同作用时,GABA、P4、dbcAMP三者均逆转c-myb ASODNs对受精的抑制作用,(小鼠体外受精率在空白组、中浓度c-myb ASODNs组、GABA、P4、Verapamil和dbcAMP组、分别为34.81%、22.96%、40.83%、39.12%、7.463% 、40.61%),GABA、P4、和dbcAMP三者对精子中的c-myb蛋白免疫组化染色阳性的细胞百分率无明显影响.Verapamil能抑制小鼠体外受精,并协同c-myb ASODNs的抑制作用,且使精子中的c-myb蛋白免疫组化染色阳性的细胞百分率明显下降.结论: c-myb ASODNs与受精密切相关, Verapamila可能通过调节精子中的c-myb表达,从而抑制小鼠体外受精,而GABA、P4和dbcAMP可能不是通过c-myb来影响受精过程.     

IGF-Ⅰ及其受体、IGF结合蛋白-2和LH受体mRNA在卵泡中的表达

利用原位杂交和原位DNA－3’末端标记的方法研究了胰岛素样生长因子河（IG－I）、IGF－I受体、IGF结合蛋白－2、和促性腺激素受体的信使核糖核酸（mRNA）在不同生长与闭锁阶段的大鼠卵巢卵泡中表达的变化。结果表明：IGF－I主要在正常生长的初级卵泡、窦前卵泡和小窦状卵泡中表达。在各生长与成熟阶段的卵泡中都检测到IGF－I受体mRNA,闭锁卵泡的IGF－I受体表达降低。窦前与窦状的生长和闭锁卵泡均表达IGFBP－2。促卵泡激素（FSH）受体在窦前和小窦状卵泡的表达水平比其在大卵泡中的高。窦前与小窦状卵泡仅在膜细胞中表达黄体生成素（LH）受体mRNA,大卵泡的膜细胞与颗粒细胞均表达LH受体,在闭锁卵泡中仅在膜细胞中观察到LH受体的信号。综上结果,提示IGF－I,IGF－I受体和FSH受体在窦前和小窦状卵泡中的协同表达对卵泡的早期发育有重要作用。LH受体mRNA特异地在大卵泡的颗粒细胞中表达可能与优势卵泡选择相关。     

卵泡内环境对猪卵泡卵体外成熟和发育的影响

研究卵泡内环境对猪卵母细胞体外成熟、受精及受精卵体外发育的影响。主要结果如下：直径≥5mm、4－4.9mm、3－3.9mm和2－2.9mm的卵泡卵母细胞体外成熟率分别为90.5%、89.7%、85.4%和67.4%,体外受精后,卵母细胞的发育能力随卵泡直径的增大而增强,直径≥5mm和4－4.9mm卵泡卵的2－细胞、3－4－细胞发育率显著高于直径2－2.9mm的卵泡卵（P＜0.05或0.01）。体外成熟培养36h、42h和48h,直径2－2.9mm卵泡卵的体外成熟率,体外受精后的卵裂率差异不显著（P＞0.05）。在体外成熟培养液中添加5％或15％的不同直径卵泡的卵泡液,各组间卵母细胞的体外成熟率,受精卵的体外发育率均无显著差异,结果表明：卵泡大小对猪卵母细胞体外成熟、受精及受精卵体外发育有重要影响。     

Natriuretic peptide receptor-A negatively regulates mitogen-activated protein kinase and proliferation of mesangial cells: role of cGMP-dependent protein kinase

We have examined the effect of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and its guanylyl cyclase/natriuretic peptide receptor-A (NPRA) on mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (MAPK/ERK2) activity in rat mesangial cells overexpressing NPRA. Agonist hormones such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), angiotensin II (ANG II), and endothelin-1 (ET-1) stimulated 2.5- to 3.5-fold immunoreactive MAPK/ERK2 activity in these cells. ANP inhibited agonist-stimulated activity of MAPK/ERK2 by 65-75% in cells overexpressing NPRA, whereas in vector-transfected cells, its inhibitory effect was only 18-20%. NPRA antagonist A71915 and KT5823, a specific inhibitor of cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) completely reversed the inhibitory effect of ANP on MAPK/ERK2 activity. ANP also inhibited the PDGF-stimulated [(3)H]thymidine uptake by almost 70% in cells overexpressing NPRA, as compared with only 20-25% inhibition in vector-transfected cells. These results demonstrate that ANP/NPRA system negatively regulates MAPK/ERK2 activity and proliferation of mesangial cells in a PKG-dependent manner.     

Characterization of S100A11, a suppressive factor of fertilization, in the mouse female reproductive tract

We recently found that Xenopus dicalcin, present in the extracellular egg-coating envelope, suppresses the efficiency of fertilization in vitro through binding to envelope-constituent glycoproteins. In the present study, we explored the mouse counterpart of Xenopus dicalcin, specifically its localization in the female reproductive tract and its action on mouse fertilization. Our homology and phylogenetic analyses using known S100 proteins showed that S100A11 is most closely related to Xenopus dicalcin. S100A11 was localized in the cytosol of luteal cells, but not in the follicle, in the mouse ovary, and also in the cytosol of the oviductal epithelial cells. In addition, our quantitative analyses revealed preferential expression of S100A11 in the ampullary region of the oviduct and at the estrus stage during the mouse estrous cycle. In the cumulus cell-oocyte complex dissected from the oviduct following ovulation, S100A11 was present in the plasma membrane of cumulus cells, but not in the zona pellucida, which is comparable with Ca(2+) -dependent binding of exogenously applied S100A11 to the plasma membrane of cumulus cells. Pretreatment of the cumulus cell-oocyte complex with recombinant S100A11 substantially reduced the efficiency of in vitro fertilization, but S100A10, the next closest S100 protein to Xenopus dicalcin, had no effect. These results suggested that S100A11 is the mouse counterpart of Xenopus dicalcin, suppresses the fertilization process through its action on cumulus cells, and thereby plays a key role in fertilization success in the mouse.     

Mouse sperm lacking cell surface hyaluronidase PH-20 can pass through the layer of cumulus cells and fertilize the egg

The function of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored sperm hyaluronidase PH-20 in fertilization has long been believed to enable acrosome-intact sperm to pass through the layer of cumulus cells and reach the egg zona pellucida. In this study, we have produced mice carrying a null mutation in the PH-20 gene using homologous recombination. Despite the absence of sperm PH-20, the mutant male mice were still fertile. In vitro fertilization assays showed that mouse sperm lacking PH-20 possess a reduced ability to disperse cumulus cells from the cumulus mass, resulting in delayed fertilization solely at the early stages after insemination. Moreover, SDS-PAGE of sperm extracts and subsequent Western blot analysis revealed the presence of other hyaluronidase(s), except PH-20, presumably within the acrosome of mouse sperm. These data provide evidence that PH-20 is not essential for fertilization, at least in the mouse, suggesting that the other hyaluronidase(s) may play an important role in sperm penetration through the cumulus cell layer and/or the egg zona pellucida, possibly in cooperation with PH-20, although the importance of sperm motility cannot be neglected.     

Caffeine promotes in vitro fertilization of mouse ova within 15 minutes

Epididymal sperm were collected from C57Bl6/J X DBA2/J (B6D2) males and allowed to capacitate for 2 hr. When cumulus-free oocytes were exposed to sperm for 15 min in either the presence (6.0 mM) or absence of caffeine, fertilization did not occur. However, when cumulus cells were left intact, 23% of oocytes were fertilized in caffeine-free medium and 62% in caffeine-containing medium. When cumulus-free oocytes were incubated with sperm for 30 min, none was fertilized in the absence of caffeine, but 33% were fertilized when 6.0 mM caffeine was present (P less than .02). These effects of caffeine were on the sperm, as sperm exposed to caffeine and then coincubated with oocytes for 15 min in essentially caffeine-free media fertilized a similar percent of oocytes (93%) as when sperm and oocytes were exposed to caffeine during the fertilization period (86%). When sperm were capacitated in caffeine-containing medium, the percentage of ova fertilized was similar to capacitation without caffeine. We conclude that both cumulus cells and caffeine speed up the fertilization process with mouse gametes and that the effect of caffeine is on the sperm, but not due to more rapid capacitation.     

Expression of atrial natriuretic peptide receptor-A antagonizes the mitogen-activated protein kinases (Erk2 and P38MAPK) in cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells

To understand the signaling mechanisms of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) receptor-A (NPRA), we studied the effect of the ANP/NPRA system on mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), with particular emphasis on the extracellular-regulated kinase (Erk2) and stress-activated protein kinase (p38^MAPK) in cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells (HVSMC). Angiotensin II (ANG II) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) stimulated the immunoreactive Erk2 and p38^MAPK activities and their protein levels by 2–4 fold. The pretreatment of cells with ANP significantly inhibited the agonist-stimulated Erk2 and p38^MAPK activities and protein expression by 65–75% in HVSMC transiently transfected with NPRA, as compared with only 18–22% inhibition in vector-transfected cells. The pretreatment of cells with KT5823, an inhibitor of cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG), reversed the inhibitory effects of ANP on MAPK activities and protein expression by 90–95%. PD98059, which inhibits Erk2 by directly inhibiting the MAPK-kinase (MEK), and SB202192, a selective antagonist of p38^MAPK, blocked the Erk2 and p38^MAPK activities, respectively. Interestingly, ANP stimulated the MAPK-phosphatase-3 (MKP-3) protein levels by more than 3-fold in HVSMC over-expressing NPRA, suggesting that ANP-dependent inhibition of MAPKs may also proceed by stimulating the phosphatase cascade. These present findings provide the evidence that ANP exerts inhibitory effects on agonist-stimulated MAPKs (Erk2 and p38^MAPK) activities and protein levels in a 2-fold manner: by antagonizing the upstream signaling pathways and by activation of MKP-3 to counter-regulate MAPKs in a cGMP and PKG-dependent manner. Our results identify a signal transduction pathway in HVSMC that could contribute to vascular remodeling and structural changes in human hypertension.     

系统低温生物学技术在实验小鼠资源保存中的建立与应用

目的建立小鼠胚胎与配子冷冻库,以安全、有效地保存小鼠资源。方法选择不同遗传背景（近交系、远交群、免疫缺陷、疾病模型和基因改变等）的实验小鼠,系统进行了超数排卵、体外受精（IVF）率、胚胎与精子的冷冻复苏效果、卵巢冷冻与移植、辅助体外受精等比较研究。结果①小鼠年龄和遗传背景的不同,其超数排卵的结果也不同（P〈0．01）。三个日龄段中,28日龄最好,其次为112日龄,56日龄最差;不同遗传背景小鼠的超数排卵结果显示,封闭群和大部分近交系小鼠优于转基因小鼠（P〈0．05）,自发性疾病小鼠和基因剔除小鼠的结果最差;②不同品系小鼠的新鲜精子和冻融精子的体外受精率差异有显著性（P〈0．05）,特别是C57BL／6J小鼠冻融精子的IVF率（10．3±4．2％）与新鲜精子（89．8±4.8％）相比,差异极显著（P〈0．01）;③不同品系小鼠的胚胎复苏率,除MRL／mp小鼠的复苏率略低外,其他小鼠品系均有较高的冷冻胚胎复苏率（58．2％～83．9％）,表明,不同遗传背景小鼠之间差异有显著性（P〈0．05）,但均可以达到有效保存小鼠资源的目的。④小鼠的遗传背景、年龄等对小鼠精子的冷冻效果都有影响,采用改良的FERTIUP冷冻保护剂和细胞质内单精注射（ICSI）技术可有效提高以C57BL／6J为背景的基因改变小鼠的精子冷冻复苏率。⑤卵巢冷冻保存可以改善雌性小鼠的繁殖困难或不孕。结论小鼠资源的安全保存,除了长期连续繁殖保种外,最好的或最保险的方法是低温保存。通过将胚胎、配子、卵巢等长期保存在液氮（-196℃）中避免遗传性状的改变,并在将来复苏后获得正常的小鼠后代,以用于生物学和医学等研究。     

Hyaluronan fragments generated by sperm-secreted hyaluronidase stimulate cytokine/chemokine production via the TLR2 and TLR4 pathway in cumulus cells of ovulated COCs, which may enhance fertilization

The toll-like receptor (TLR) system is expressed in cumulus cells of ovulated cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) and is activated by bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS). However, the endogenous ligand(s) for the TLRs and the physiological role(s) in ovulated COCs remain to be defined. Based on reports that hyaluronan fragments can activate TLR2 and TLR4 in macrophages, and that ovulated COCs are characterized by a hyaluronan-rich matrix, we cultured ovulated mouse COCs with purified hyaluronan fragments, treated them with purified hyaluronidase or exposed them to sperm as a physiologically relevant source of hyaluronidase. Hyaluronan fragments or hyaluronidase activated the NFkappaB pathway and induced Il6, Ccl4 and Ccl5 mRNA expression within 2 hours. Anti-TLR2 and anti-TLR4 neutralizing antibodies significantly suppressed hyaluronan fragment- and hyaluronidase-induced activation of the NFkappaB pathway and the expression of these genes. When ovulated COCs were cultured with sperm, the expression and secretion of cytokine/chemokine family members were induced in a time-dependent manner that could be blocked by TLR2/TLR4 antibodies or by a hyaluronan-blocking peptide (Pep-1). The chemokines secreted from TLR2/TLR4-stimulated COCs activated cognate chemokine receptors (CCRs) localized on sperm and induced sperm protein tyrosine phosphorylation, which was used as an index of capacitation. Significantly, in vitro fertilization of COC-enclosed oocytes was reduced by the TLR2/TLR4 neutralizing antibodies or by Pep-1. From these results, we propose that TLR2 and TLR4 present on cumulus cells were activated by the co-culture with sperm in a hyaluronan fragment-dependent manner, and that chemokines secreted from COCs induced sperm capacitation and enhanced fertilization, providing evidence for a regulatory loop between sperm and COCs during fertilization.     

Fertilization of cumulus-free,zona-intact mouse ova in vitro at high and low sperm concentrations

The effect of varying the sperm concentration between 2 × 10⁵ sperm/ml and 8 × 10⁶ sperm/ml on fertilization of cumulus-free, zona-intact F1 (CBA × C57BL) mouse ova by QS and F1 (CBA × C57BL) mouse spermatozoa was studied. The spermatozoa from both strains of mice exhibited optimal fertilization rates at 2 × 106 sperm/ml. However, at sperm concentrations greater than 4 × 106 sperm/ml and less than 1 × 106 sperm/ml, fertilization rates were significantly reduced. F1 spermatozoa were more susceptible to dilution than QS spermatozoa. A significant interaction between strain and sperm concentration indicated that the two strains produced different fertilization rates at different sperm densities. Extracts of epididymal fluid, medium from capacitated spermatozoa, or ampulla fluid did not improve the fertilization rate at 2 × 105 sperm/ml, but retaining the cumulus oophorus did. The decrease in fertilization rate at 8 × 106 sperm/ml can in part be attributed to a nondialysable inhibitor from the neat sperm preparation that appeared to be of epididymal origin.     

Effect of the cumulus on in vitro fertilization of bovine matured oocytes

The effect of the cumulus on in vitro fertilization in bovines was examined. Follicular oocytes were cultured in medium 199 plus OCS and extra granulosa cells. Frozen-thawed bovine spermatozoa was separated by the swim-up technique, suspended in Talp medium and capacitated with heparin. Fresh sheep and goat semen was incubated for 4 h at room temperature, washed and spermatozoa were then suspended in Talp medium and capacitated by incubation at 38.5 °C and 5% CO₂ in air and heparin.

In experiment 1, cumulus-enclosed oocytes, denuded oocytes and denuded oocytes plus additional cumulus cells were incubated with a reduced concentration of bovine spermatozoa for 8 or 18 h. In Experiment 2, cumulus enclosed and denuded oocytes were incubated with bovine spermatozoa for 4, 6, 8 and 18 h using a sperm concentration adjusted to secure high fertilization rates. In Experiment 3, cumulus-enclosed and denuded bovine oocytes were incubated with either sheep or goat spermatozoa for 18 h. Fertilization rates were then calculated and compared statistically. The results showed that 1) the cumulus improved the fertilization rate only when cumulus cells were associated with the oocytes 2) the timing of sperm penetration was not modified by the cumulus and started at 4 h after sperm incubation and 3) the presence of the cumulus improved the heterologous fertilization rate only when sheep spermatozoa were used. The results suggest that the cumulus improves fertilization rate by providing a capacitation-inducing mechanism and by facilitating the interaction between capacitated spermatozoa and the zona pellucida surface.