Question

Capacitation of sperms occur in
A) Fallopian tube
B) Vas deferens
C) Vas efferens
D) Vagina

Answer 1

Sperms are the male reproductive cells which are motile due to the presence of a tail by the help of which they can swim on, reach the female egg and finally fuse to form the zygote.

Complete answer:
Capacitation is the final step that leads to the maturation of mammalian sperm following which it can fertilize the female egg. The uterus helps in the process of capacitation by secreting various substances like proteolytic enzymes, albumins, lipoproteins. The process of capacitation has two major effects- it leads to the destabilisation of the sperm head that further allows it to penetrate the egg in a more efficient manner and it also leads to chemical changes in the sperm tail which results in increased motility. The changes that occur due to capacitation is mainly due to the removal of the sterols and also the epididymal glycoproteins. This results in increased permeability for calcium ions; influx of calcium ions results in increased motility. The capacitation of sperm mostly occurs in the reproductive tract of the female and requires approximately 1-4 hours to complete.

Hence the correct option answer is (A) Fallopian tube.

Note: Capacitation involves a variety of biochemical, signalling as well as restructuring events and is a very important step in the fertilization of the egg by the sperm. In the absence of capacitation the sperm cannot penetrate the egg and thus no fertilization occurs.