Christopher De Jonge, Ph.D., HCLD

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Received 05/30/96; Accepted 07/14/96; On-line 09/01/96

4. CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the present review provided evidence for the involvement of the cAMP-dependent kinase pathway in the human sperm acrosome reaction. It is likely that the mediation of one or more external signals by the sperm plasma membrane results in the activation of this pathway after or simultaneous with the entry of calcium. Concurrent with or following calcium influx, adenylate cyclase becomes active, resulting in increased cAMP levels, activation of cAMP-dependent kinase, and protein phosphorylation. It remains to be established which proteins become phosphorylated and how they function in the AR. Further, the activation of the cAMP-dependent kinase pathway by biological effectors of the AR, such as, sZP3 and hFF, requires clarification.