Sperm cannot fertilize an egg unless they have been in the female reproductive tract for several hours. This enhanced ability of the sperm to fertilize the ovum is called capacitation. In vitro studies indicate that the sperm can fertilize the ovum if they are first washed before being introduced to the ovum. These observations suggest that
A) the process of capacitation involves the removal of some inhibiting substance or substances from the sperm.
B) the process of capacitation is temperature dependent.
C) in capacitation, secretions of the female reproductive tract are taken up by the sperm.
D) pH is an important factor in the process of capacitation.
E) only sperm that come into contact with vaginal secretions are capable of fertilizing an ovum.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The observation that sperm can fertilize an ovum if they are first washed before being introduced to the ovum suggests that capacitation involves the removal of some inhibiting substance or substances from the sperm. This implies that capacitation is a process of priming the sperm to fertilize the ovum, which occurs naturally in the female reproductive tract over the course of several hours.

Sperm Cannot Fertilize an Egg Unless They Have Been in the Female