Mammalian spermatozoa do not have fertilizing capacity when they are ejaculated; they acquire it during transit through the female reproductive tract in a process called capacitation.

In this process, biochemical changes occur in the sperm that determine important functions such as hyperactivation and acrosomal exocytosis.

The general objective of our laboratory is to study the molecular and cellular mechanisms associated with sperm capacitation in mammals, and consequently with the development of hyperactivated motility and acrosomal exocytosis, essential for fertilization.