Mammalian fertilization remains a poorly understood event with the vast majority of studies done in the mouse model. The purpose of this review is to revise the current knowledge about semen deposition, sperm transport, sperm capacitation, gamete interactions and early embryonic development with a focus on the porcine model as a relevant, alternative model organism to humans. The review provides a thorough overview of post-ejaculation events inside the sow’s reproductive tract including comparisons with humans and implications for human fertilization and assisted reproductive therapy (ART). Porcine methodology for sperm handling, preservation, in vitro capacitation, oocyte in vitro maturation, in vitro fertilization and intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection that are routinely used in pig research laboratories can be successfully translated into ART to treat human infertility. Last, but not least, new knowledge about mitochondrial inheritance in the pig can provide an insight into human mitochondrial diseases and new knowledge on polyspermy defense mechanisms could contribute to the development of new male contraceptives.

中文翻译：

---

用于研究精子获能、受精和男性生育能力的猪模型

哺乳动物受精仍然是一个知之甚少的事件，绝大多数研究都是在小鼠模型中完成的。本综述的目的是修订关于精液沉积、精子运输、精子获能、配子相互作用和早期胚胎发育的现有知识，重点是猪模型作为人类相关的替代模式生物。该综述全面概述了母猪生殖道内的射精后事件，包括与人类的比较以及对人类受精和辅助生殖治疗 (ART) 的影响。用于精子处理、保存、体外获能、卵母细胞体外成熟的猪方法学，猪研究实验室常规使用的体外受精和胞浆内单精子注射可以成功转化为ART治疗人类不孕症。最后但并非最不重要的是，关于猪线粒体遗传的新知识可以提供对人类线粒体疾病的深入了解，而关于多精子防御机制的新知识可能有助于开发新的男性避孕药。