New Advances in our Understanding of Fertilization

Spermatozoa are highly reactive cells that, in the way to fertilization, interact with a series of cells and fluids in order to overcome the process of pre-feralization and fertilization. All these interactions are going to produce cell responses in spermatozoa as well as cellular and molecular changes in the female genital tract. Those cell- and molecular responses are in charge of preparing the female genital tract for the future pregnancy and, in turn, get the oocyte ready prior to fertilization. Recently, there have been advances in our understanding of sperm-interactions through the study of both sperm components (such as sperm membrane channels and receptors) and seminal plasma components (such as enzymes, exosomes, etc.).

There is still a lack of knowledge in both sperm-female genital tract interactions and sperm-egg interactions, as well as the role of the seminal plasma in the female genital tract is not yet fully elucidated. Through a wide variety of analytical tools such as light and electron microscopy, flow cytometry, transcriptomics, etc. it is possible to investigate the mechanisms of such interactions and thus increase our knowledge in the pre-fertilization and fertilization processes.

The goal of this Research Topic is to elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms that both spermatozoa, the oocyte and the female genital tract overcome prior to, and during, fertilization. This Research Topic covers both domestic, laboratory and wild animals.

The main areas to be included in this Research Topic, but not exclusively limited to, are:

- Sperm membrane proteins such as receptors and channels in relation to fertilization.
- Components of the seminal plasma and their role in the female genital tract.
- Oocyte membrane proteins in relation to fertilization.
- Sperm interaction with seminal plasma to overcome the pre-fertilization processes.
- Sperm interaction with the female genital tract to overcome the pre-fertilization processes.