Published
2024-12-27
Section
Articles
How to Cite
A review of the role of lectins in animal gametes and embryo development
Touba Nadri
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, and Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0186-1120
Andres Gambini
School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, and School of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Queensland, 4343, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3652-2068
DOI: https://doi.org/10.20448/aesr.v11i2.6260
Keywords: Embryogenesis, Lectin, Oocyte, Reproductive, Sperm, Spermatozoa.
Abstract
Lectins are carbohydrate binding proteins found in most of the plants and in some animals. Sperm glycocalyx modifications are known to occur during capacitation and the acrosome reaction. These changes are very important for gamete recognition and fertilization in mammals but are not fully understood. Moreover, studies on lectin treatment of oocytes have yielded inconsistent effects on fertilization rates, suggesting a complex interplay of mechanisms. Beyond fertilization, the mitogenic properties of lectins are associated with germinal vesicle breakdown and cumulus cell expansion, indicating their involvement in oocyte maturation. Lectins have been also implicated in modulating cell adhesion, cell surface remodeling, and signaling pathways during early embryonic cleavage stages, influencing successful preimplantation embryo development. This article discusses the roof lectins in sperm, oocyte and embryo biology.