Calcium homeostasis plays a tremendously profound role in determining the quality of gametogenesis and gamete maturity, the resultant efficacy of fertilisation, and ultimately determining the competency of embryogenesis. From germinal vesicle breakdown to sperm capacitation and hyperactivation, oocyte activation and maintenance of zygote calcium homeostasis, to finally determining embryogenic developmental gradients, perhaps no other single ion plays such a profound and determinative role in reproductive success.
Calcium is necessary for a multitude of processes involving sperm, ranging from regulation of steroidogenesis at spermatogenesis, sperm motility, capacitation, acrosome reaction before fertilisation. The role of calcium is also well documented in determining oocyte physiology, ranging from determining meiotic progression, germinal vesicle breakdown and plasma membrane polarisation. Collectively, calcium also plays a fundamental role in determining the efficacy of oocyte activation, as well as subsequent preimplantation embryogenesis.
This Research Topic aims to collect, collate, and summarize the most recent and cutting-edge advances made examining the molecular determinants and effectors of calcium signaling and homeostasis directly preceding and throughout the early events of fertilisation, and preimplantation embryogenesis, with a specific view to examining how calcium can affect the multitude of events that determine the efficacy of such events. We also aim for this topic to examine and collate novel tools and methods being developed to examine calcium signaling within the fertility clinic.
Considering the enormous complexity of the interconnected molecular networks at play within reproduction, this Research Topic will examine articles within the following themes:
- Calcium signaling at spermatogenesis, capacitation, hyperactivation and the acrosome reaction
- Calcium signaling pathways in oogenesis, oocyte maturation, and ovulation
- Calcium signaling pathways at fertilisation, oocyte activation, and preimplantation embryogenesis
- Calcium homeostasis (influx and efflux) in gametes and the embryo
- Methods of evaluating calcium signaling within gametes and embryos
- The role of calcium signaling in determine assisted reproductive technology treatment success
The Research Topic will aim to attract Reviews/Mini-reviews, Methodology and Original Research articles, Hypothesis and Theory, and Perspective articles. A list of accepted article types including descriptions can be found at this
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