The role of phospholipase Czeta in male fertility as an oocyte activation factor

In the mammalian, after sperm penetration into the oocyte and pass fertilization process, a set of cascade signals initiate that includes oscillations of calcium concentration in free oocyte cytosolic. The aim of this review article was to evaluate the role of Phospholipase Czeta (PLCz) in human oocyte activation and the role of this protein in sperm samples of fertile and infertile men. In this review, fifty- one published articles related to protein phospholipase Czeta, during 2002-2013, were assessed via the PubMed. Since the discovery of PLCz in 2002, there has been much progress in researcher understanding of this fundamental sperm protein, both at the scientific and clinical level. Despite high fertilization rate after ICSI, some infertile individuals are faced to failed fertilization. Therefore, it is clear that phospholipase Czeta plays a fundamental role in the activation of human oocytes. Thus, genetic, molecular, or biochemical perturbation in this protein causes oocyte activation deficiency. Phospholipase Czeta can be used either as a novel therapeutic agent which rescue oocyte activation deficiency, or as a prognostic/diagnostic biomarker of oocyte activation ability in target sperm samples.