[Chemotaxis of spermatozoa--an important and little known process accompanying fertilization].

The presented paper is the survey of the most important literature concerning one of the basic biological properties of spermatozoa which is their chemotaxis during the process of fertilization. During the recent years a significant progress in the knowledge of this matter has been observed, especially in relation to human and mammal spermatozoa. A natural chemotactic factor is, in the case of mammals, the vesicle fluid. It is not known, however, which of its components is of the crucial importance. Numerous hormones, cytokines and other growth factors as well as other components of the vesicle fluid have been described as chemoattractants. It can be concluded from the research carried out so far that the chemotactic activity of the vesicle fluid results from its complex composition, and not from the existence of one chemical substance which could be crucial for the process.