Capacitation

As capacitation of physiological maturation of sperm cells is referred to in the female genital tract, without which it is impossible to fertilize the egg.

Physiology

It is a biochemical conversion process of the sperm, which is especially favored by the cervical secretion. In humans, this one versions on the sperm Glykoproteinüberzug and various present in the ejaculate proteins are removed within about 12 hours. Protein substances in the head of the sperm are activated and put the sperm in a position to penetrate the ovum - if the requisite acrosome reaction only takes place upon contact of the sperm with the zona pellucida.

Estrogens stimulate capacitation. Natural environmental estrogens may accelerate the capacitation also - so that may also lead to a premature acrosome reaction and thus prevent procreation.

The study of the processes involved in sperm capacitation are for two reasons: On the one hand, couples could be helped to have children, on the other hand, the development of Kapazitationshemmern represent a new form of contraception.