The role of PACAP-mediated sperm-cumulus cell interaction in fertilization

积云细胞被认为可以促进受精，但其确切机制尚不清楚。我们发现PACAP存在于小鼠精子顶体中，它刺激积云细胞分泌促受精因子，加速精子穿过透明带。我们发现神经激肽A是一种增强精子活力和顶体反应的积云细胞因子，这是精子穿透透明带所必需的。

Cumulus cells have been suggested to promote fertilization although the precise mechanism remains unclear. We showed that PACAP was present in the mouse sperm acrosome and it stimulated cumulus cells to secrete fertilization-promoting factorswhich accelerate sperm penetration through the zona pellucida. We identified neurokinin A as a cumulus cell factor that enhanced both the sperm motility and acrosome reactionwhich are necessary for sperm to penetrate the zona pellucida.