E42: Sperm Capacitation: Molecular Mechanisms with Dr. Pablo Visconti

The Future Conceived

The Future Conceived
E42: Sperm Capacitation: Molecular Mechanisms with Dr. Pablo Visconti
Aug 13, 2025 Episode 42
SSR Podcast

Welcome to Future Conceived, the official podcast of the Society for the Study of Reproduction.  In this episode, host Cam Schmidt chats with Dr. Pablo Visconti, Professor of Animal and Veterinary Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Sperm maturation doesn't end with ejaculation, but instead continues in the female reproductive tract through a series of complex biochemical changes. This maturation process, known as capacitation, can make or break sperm success and its independent discovery in the 1950's by Austin and Chang helped pave the way for the first successful in vitro fertilization. Dr. Visconti has been studying the molecular mechanisms that control mammalian sperm capacitation for more than 40 years. This discussion offers a fascinating window into Dr. Visconti's approach to this problem and how his mechanistic insights have evolved as knowledge about sperm capacitation has accumulated over the course of his career.  

Episode Artwork E42: Sperm Capacitation: Molecular Mechanisms with Dr. Pablo Visconti 1:47:02 Episode Artwork EP 41: 2025 Training Mentoring Award Interview with Marisa Bartolomei 48:14 Episode Artwork EP 40: What's New at BOR? Expanded Scope, Special Issues, and More! 29:52 Episode Artwork EP 39: Interview with 2024 Roger V Short Medal Awardee Dr. Francesca Duncan 42:51 Episode Artwork EP 38: Interview with 2024 SSR Jansen Distinguished Leadership and Service Award Winner Dr. Katherine Loveland 43:54 Episode Artwork EP 37: Interview with 2024 Carl G. Hartman Award Winner Dr. Francesco DeMayo 42:34 Episode Artwork EP 36: Interview with 2024 Fuller W. Bazer SSR International Scientist Award Winner Islam Saadeldin 19:40 Episode Artwork EP 35: Interview with 2024 Janice Bahr Junior Scientist Travel Award Winner, Dr. Xiaoqiu Wang 18:47 Episode Artwork EP 34: Interview with 2024 SSR New Investigator Award Winner, Dr. Shuo Xiao 27:16 Episode Artwork EP 33: Interview with 2024 SSR Trainee Mentoring Award Winner, Dr. Paula Cohen 19:08 Episode Artwork EP 32: Fertility Studies and Reproductive Management in Cheetahs Part II 42:27 Episode Artwork EP 31: Challenging Scientific Dogma with Greg Johnson and Ky Pohler 33:27 Episode Artwork EP 30: Interview with 2024 SSR Research Award Winner, Dr. John Davis 14:13 Episode Artwork EP 29: Interview with 2023 Carl G. Hartman Award Winner, Dr. Bruce Murphy 23:16 Episode Artwork EP 28: Interview with 2023 Roger V Short Medal Winner, Dr. Niamh Forde 13:09 Episode Artwork EP 27: The world’s first successful IVF in white rhino, interview with Dr. Thomas Hildebrandt 33:05 Episode Artwork EP 26: Interview with Dr. Joy Pate, the 2021 Trainee Mentoring Awardee 22:10 Episode Artwork EP 25: Interview with 2023 SSR Jansen Distinguished Service Award Winner Mark Mirando 36:07 Episode Artwork EP 24: Interview with 2023 Virendra B. Mahesh New Investigator Award Winner Dr. Ahmed Balboula 16:10 Episode Artwork EP 23: Interview with 2023 Fuller W Bazer SSR International Scientist Awardee, Dr. Hefeng Huang 9:09 Episode Artwork EP 22: Interview with 2023 SSR Research Award Recipient Jodi Flaws, PhD 12:15 Episode Artwork EP 21: Interview with Dr Diana Monsivais, the 2023 SSR Bahr Jr Scientist Travel Awardee 12:58 Episode Artwork EP 20: Interview with Dr. Fuller Bazer, a 50+ year long career dedicated to reproductive biology 43:35 Episode Artwork EP 19: Interview with 2023 SSR Heritage Honoree Dr. Fredrick Stormshak 28:33 Episode Artwork EP 18: Interview with Dr Carmen Williams, the recipient of the 2023 SSR Trainee Mentoring Award 28:56