Molecular aspects of mammalian fertilization

<正> Mammalian fertilization is a highly regulated process, much of which are not clearly understood. Here we presentsome information in order to elaborate a working hypothesis for this process, beginning with the sperm modifications inthe epidydimis up to sperm and egg plasmalemma interaction and fusion. We also discuss the still poorly understood ca-pacitation process, the phenomenon of sperm chemo-attraction that brings the capacitated sperm to interact with theoocyte vestments and certain aspects of the acrosome reaction. (Asian J Androl 2001 Dec; 3 : 243 - 249)