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Why must mammalian sperm undergo capacitation before fertilization?
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Fertilization
Fertilization occurs when a sperm cell penetrates and fuses with an egg (ovum).
Mammalian sperm must undergo capacitation during their passage through the female genital tract because it is a vital physiological change required for them to participate in fertilization.
Specifically, this process enables sperm to perform the following essential functions:
- Acrosome Reaction: It allows the sperm to undergo the acrosome reaction, a necessary step for the sperm to associate with and fuse to the egg.
- Penetration: It grants the sperm the ability to traverse the protective egg envelopes, including the corona radiata and the zona pellucida, to reach the interior of the egg.12
Without undergoing these physiological changes, sperm are unable to successfully penetrate the egg or complete the fertilization process.1