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Sperm entry into fertilised mouse eggs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2008

Darek Maluchnik*
Affiliation:
Department of Embryology, Institute of Zoology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
Ewa Borsuk
Affiliation:
Department of Embryology, Institute of Zoology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
*
Darek Malichnik, Department of Embryology, Institute of Zoology, University of Warsaw, 00-927 Warsaw 64, Krakowskie Przedmiescie 26/28, Poland. Tel: 48 22 268376. Fax: 48 22 268624. E-mail address: EMBRIO@PLEARN.EDU.PL.

Summary

We have investigated the oolemma block to polyspermy in the mouse. Zona-free and zona-intact eggs were fertilised and subsequently re-inseminated (the latter following zona pellucida removal). The ‘perivitelline’ block to polyspermy in zona-intact eggs renders motile sperm in the perivitelline space unable to bind to the oolemma. This is not connected with irreversible changes in the egg plasma membrane, because freshly added sperm can still fuse with such eggs freed from the zona. Fertilised eggs eventually lose the ability to fuse with sperm within 1 h, while still being able to bind many sperm.

Type
Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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