Japanese Association for Laboratory Animal Sciences, Experimental Animals, 4(63), p. 357-365, 2014
Japanese Association for Laboratory Animal Sciences, Experimental Animals, 99999(99999), p. 99999999-99999999
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Despite numerous studies on mammalian fertilization, the mechanisms of fertilization—including the timing of acrosome reaction—remain largely unknown; more accurately described, the classical theory built upon years of layered experimental data is being challenged by recent conflicting evidence provided by gene-manipulated animals. Although in vitro fertilization remains our central research tool, the classical theory’s decline reminds us of the importance of in vivo observations. Here, I describe the essential roles of gene-manipulated animals in elucidating the mechanism of fertilization and the pitfalls of in vitro fertilization studies trapping many researchers.