Fertilization is a complex process that requires successive stages and culminates in the adhesion/fusion of gamete membranes. If the question of the involvement of oocyte integrins has been swept away by deletion experiments, that of the involvement of sperm integrins remains to be further characterized. In the present study, we addressed the question of the feasibility of sperm-oocyte adhesion/fusion and early implantation in the absence of sperm β1 integrin. Males and females with β1 integrin-depleted sperm and oocytes were mated, and fertilization outcome was monitored by a gestational ultrasound analysis. Results suggest that although the sperm β1 integrin participates in gamete adhesion/fusion, it is dispensable for fertilization in mice. However, sperm- and/or oocyte-originated integrin β1 is essential for post-implantation development. Redundancy phenomena could be at the origin of a compensatory expression or alternative dimerization pattern.

Department of Zoology Faculty of Science Charles University BIOCEV Vinicna 7 128 44 Prague Czech Republic

Laboratory of Reproductive Biology Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences BIOCEV Prumyslova 595 252 50 Vestec Czech Republic

Service d'Histologie d'Embryologie Biologie de la Reproduction AP HP Hôpital Cochin F 75014 Paris France

Université Paris Cité CNRS INSERM Institut Cochin F 75014 Paris France

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