[The human zona pellucida: New genetic findings].

The Zona Pellucida (ZP) is an ovarian specialized extracellular coat surrounding the oocyte. In human, ZP is composed of four glycoproteins: ZP1, ZP2, ZP3 and ZP4. It regulates sperm binding to the oocyte during fertilization. After fertilization, ZP prevents polyspermia and is important for the protection of the developing embryo and oviductal transport avoiding ectopic implantation. According to the development of sequencing techniques, many mutations have been described in infertile patients. The aim of this review is to synthesize mutations in genes encoding ZP glycoproteins described in humans and their effects on female fertility.