• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.57-64
• /
• 2005

Cortical reaction and polyspermy block are well defined in most marine invertebrates. In Urechis species, the function of cortical granules (CGs) is not yet known, and there is controversy on whether the cortical reaction occurs, or the fertilization envelope (FE) is attributed to CG releases or functions to prevent polyspermy. This study was carried out to determine the cortical reactions and functions of the FE in Urechis unicinctus. Artificial insemination of the eggs revealed that CG release occurred to give rise to perivitelline space (PS) into the final FE. Both PS and final FE effectively blocked polyspermy. The final FE was accomplished within 10 min after sperm-egg initial binding. No massive release of CGs occurred within the early phase of 5 min after the initial binding, initially and the PS seemed to playa role to prevent polyspermy. The CG massively released its content into the PS in late phase of FE formation, and differentiated PS into five intermediate layers. The layers opened into each other by anastomosis, so that the final FE consisted of two layers, the inner layer ($15{\mu}m$ in thickness) and the outer layer ($1{\mu}m$ in thickness). The outer layer derived from vitelline layer and the inner layer consisted of PS and CG secretions. Immunofluorescence and confocal laser microscopy revealed that the spermatozoon took up residence in the egg cortex during FE formation and successive meioses of the fertilized egg. These results suggest that both PS and final FE of U. unicinctus were equivalent to the early and late block, respectively, of other marine animals.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.50 no.3
• /
• pp.154-159
• /
• 2023

Monospermy occurs in the process of normal fertilization where a single sperm fuses with the egg, resulting in the formation of a diploid zygote. During the process of fertilization, the sperm must penetrate the zona pellucida (ZP), the outer layer of the egg, to reach the egg's plasma membrane. Once a sperm binds to the ZP, it undergoes an acrosomal reaction, which involves the release of enzymes from the sperm's acrosome that help it to penetrate the ZP. Ovastacin is one of the enzymes that is involved in breaking down the ZP. Studies have shown that ovastacin is necessary for the breakdown of the ZP and for successful fertilization to occur. However, the activity of ovastacin is tightly regulated to ensure that only one sperm can fertilize the egg. One way in which ovastacin helps to prevent polyspermy (the fertilization of an egg by more than one sperm) is by rapidly degrading the ZP after a sperm has penetrated it. This makes it difficult for additional sperm to penetrate the ZP and fertilize the egg. Ovastacin is also thought to play a role in the block to polyspermy, a mechanism that prevents additional sperm from fusing with the egg's plasma membrane after fertilization has occurred. In summary, the role of ovastacin in monospermic fertilization is to help ensure that only one sperm can fertilize the egg, while preventing polyspermy and ensuring successful fertilization.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.173-181
• /
• 1996

The time-course process by which spermatozoa penetrates through the micropvle apparatus into the egg cytoplasm of rainbow trout, Oncorhvnchus mvkiss, was examined with transmission and scanning electron microscopy. In the unfertilized egg, the ess surface beneath the inner opening of the micropylar canal did not differ distinctly from the rest of the animal pole area. A spermatozoon attached to the micropvle opening 20 seconds after insemination. In the initial stases of penetration, the spermatozoon still within the micropvlar canal attached perpendicularly at its apical tip to the ess surface, then the sperm head was rapidly engulfed by the folded egg surface with its manly microvilli. A large fertilization cone with microvillus-free surface appeared on the esS surface sutra-rounding the penetrating spermatozoon. The head portion of the penetrating spermatozoon was completely wrapped by the ess surface with only the tail portion visible externally 30 seconds after insemination. The fertilization cone displayed the tail portion of the penetrating spermatozoon on the central portion of its surface 60 seconds after insemination. 150 seconds after insemination, breakdown of the cortical granules elevation were initiated at the animal pole, then completed at the vegetable pole area. The spermatozoon disappeared from the outer surface of the ess before the fertilization cone completely retracted 250 seconds after insemination. In result, the block to polvspermv to permit entry of a sin81e sperm is considered to be mechanical by the rnorpholoSical design of the micropvle and fertilization cone.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.50-56
• /
• 1990

Bovine oocytes obtained from follicles(2~5mm) of ovaries after slaughter were cultured in TCM 199 medium with 10~20% heat-inactivated estrus cow serum(ECS) for 25~27 hr, at 39$^{\circ}C$ under 5% CO2 in air. At the end of culture period, some oocytes were stained with 1% acetoorcein and examined for the evidence of oocyte maturation. The remainder were used to assess the potential of in vitro fertilization(IVF) with frozen-thawed spermatozoa and subsequent development in media with or without bovine oviduct epithelial cell (BOEC) co-culture. The results obtained were summarized as follows ; 1. The maturation rate of oocyte in vitro in TCM 199 medium with 15% ECS group(76.3) was superior to 10% ECS group(68.3%) and 20% ECS group(64.5%). 2. The IVF rates of oocytes matured in vitro, and formation rate of male and female pronuclei were 63.6%(77/121) and 93.5%(72/77), respectively. The incidence of polyspermy was very low(2.4%). 3. Of 73 oocytes fertilized in vitro and cultured in TCM 199 medium with 10% fetal calf serum for 7 days, 41(56.3%) were cleaved over 2-cell and only 1(2.4%) was developed beyond the 16-cell stage. 4. Of 76 oocytes co-cultured with BOEC, 58(76.3%) were cleavaged and 23(39.7%) were developed to morula and blastocyst stage. The results of this study indicate that co-culture with BOEC deserved a positive effect on the IVF oocyte development through the 16-cell block.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.99-110
• /
• 1994

One consequence of fertilization in mammals is an increased resistance of the zona pellucida (ZP) to proteases and various chemical reagents. This phenomenon has been called 'zona pellucida hardening' (ZPH), and it is generally accepted that it is caused by the secretory products of cortical granules released by the egg at fertilization. ZP of mouse oocytes maturing in vitro in a chemically defined medium becomes progressively more resistant to solubilization by chymotrypsin ("Spontaneous" ZP hardening). In the present study, it was aimed to find the specificity of spontaneous ZPH in relation to its possible relevance to the cortical reaction and the physiological block to polyspermy. When a maturation inhibitors, cAMP analog(dbcAMP) and phosphodiesterase inhibitor (IBMX) was added to culture medium, it prevent spontaneous ZPH of mouse oocyte during in vitro culture. Thus spontaneous ZPH requires GVBD, since it is prevented by those agents, which inhibit GVBD in vitro. However, culture for 3 hours in the presence of PMA(lOng/ml), a protein kinase C activator, resulted in ZPH without GVBD, thus suggesting that ZPH may be regulated independently apart from the event of GVBD. Pretreatment of mouse oocyte with FBS result in partially inhibitory effect on subsequent spontaneous ZPH. Induction of GVBD in vivo had a inhibitory effect on the spontaneous ZPH, but subsequent spontaneous ZPH. Induction of GVBD in vivo had a inhinbitory effect on the spontaneous ZPII, but had no inhibitory effect on PMA-induced ZPH. Treatment with a microfilament formation blocker(cytochalasin-B) at 1${\mu}g$/ml concentration, resulted in the excellent inhibitory effect on spontaneous ZPH. However cytochalasin-B did not inhibit PMA-induced ZPH. Thus this suggesting that spontaneuse ZPH had a different mechanism from PMA-induced ZPH.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.297-306
• /
• 2020

Repetitive changes in the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]i) triggers egg activation, including cortical granule exocytosis, resumption of second meiosis, block to polyspermy, and initiating embryonic development. [Ca²⁺]i oscillations that continue for several hours, are required for the early events of egg activation and possibly connected to further development to the blastocyst stage. The sources of Ca²⁺ ion elevation during [Ca²⁺]i oscillations are Ca²⁺ release from endoplasmic reticulum through inositol 1,4,5 tri-phosphate receptor and Ca²⁺ ion influx through Ca²⁺ channel on the plasma membrane. Ca²⁺ channels have been characterized into voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels (VDCCs), ligand-gated Ca²⁺ channel, and leak-channel. VDCCs expressed on muscle cell or neuron is specified into L, T, N, P, Q, and R type VDCs by their activation threshold or their sensitivity to peptide toxins isolated from cone snails and spiders. The present study was aimed to investigate the localization pattern of N and P/Q type voltage-dependent calcium channels in mouse eggs and the role in fertilization. [Ca²⁺]i oscillation was observed in a Ca²⁺ contained medium with sperm factor or adenophostin A injection but disappeared in Ca²⁺ free medium. Ca²⁺ influx was decreased by Lat A. N-VDCC specific inhibitor, ω-Conotoxin CVIIA induced abnormal [Ca²⁺]i oscillation profiles in SrCl₂ treatment. N or P/Q type VDC were distributed on the plasma membrane in cortical cluster form, not in the cytoplasm. Ca²⁺ influx is essential for [Ca²⁺]i oscillation during mammalian fertilization. This Ca²⁺ influx might be controlled through the N or P/Q type VDCCs. Abnormal VDCCs expression of eggs could be tested in fertilization failure or low fertilization eggs in subfertility women.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2000

Ultrastructure of the zona radiata the micropyle and fertilization process in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were examined by light, scanning and transmission microscopes . The egg micropyle of rainbow trout consists of a funnel-shaped vestibule and a tapered canal transversing the zona radiata. The micropyle showed the type with a flat pit leading into a long canal and the micropylar wall showed the clockwise spiral structure. There were a great number of microvilli secreting adhesive materials having trapping function attracting the spermatozoa in the vicinity of micropyle. It was apparent that ridges extended between the projections. In the initial stages of penetration, the spermatozoon still within the micropylar canal attached perpendicularly at its apical tip to the egg surface, then the sperm head was rapidly engulfed by the folded egg surface with its many microvilli. The spermatozoon disappeared from the outer surface of the egg before the fertilization cone completely retracted 250 seconds after insemination. No interconnecting ridges was present in the egg surface. In short, the block to polyspermy to permit entry of a single sperm is considered to be mechanical by the morphological design of the micropyle and fertilization cone.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.179-186
• /
• 2002

Objective: Lectins are cell-agglutinating and sugar specific proteins or glycoproteins of non-immune origin that precipitate glycoconjugates having saccharides of appropriate complementarity. Because of these properties, plant lectins have been used to help characterize the carbohydrate moieties of glycoproteins in the zona pellucida (ZP) of several mammalian species including pigs. Treatment of oocytes with various lectins blocks sperm binding to the ZP in various mammalian species. This study was undertaken to examine the distribution of sugar residues in the ZP of pig oocytes matured in vitro and the ability of spermatozoa to bind to ZP and in vitro penetration in oocytes treated with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled lectins. Materials and Methods: The lectins of Banderiaea simplicifolia (BS-II, bind to $\beta$-D-N-acetylglucosamine), Canavalin ensiformis (Con A, bind to $\alpha$-D-Mannose), Lens culinaris (LCA, bind to a-D-Mannose), Ricinus communis (RCA-I, bind to $\beta$-D-Galactose) and Ulex europaeus (UEA-I, bind to $\alpha$-L-Fucose) were examined for spermatozoa penetration, binding capacity to ZP and distribution of lectins. Results: The penetration rates were significantry (p<0.05) higher in control oocytes (63%) than those treated with all lectins, but penetration rates ($40{\sim}49%$) were simililar in group treated with lectins. The incidence of monospermy was similar in oocytes untreated and UEA-I, but it was higher in oocytes treated with BS-II, Con A, RCA-I and LCA. The porcine oocytes cultured for 48 h in TC-199 medium were freed from cumulus cells and treated for 30 min with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled lectins. When examined under fluorescein illumination, higher (p<0.001) proportions of oocytes showed fluorescein of zona pellucida after treatment with Con A (93%), LCA (93%) and RCA-I (100%) than BS-II (37%) and UEA-I (50%). All of the oocytes treated with RCA-I exhibited strong fluorescein in the outer region of the zona pellucida while those treated with LCA exhibited strong fluorescein throughout the zona pellucida. BS-II bounded mainly to the outer region and UEA-I bounded mainly to the inner region of the zona pellucida, with either strong or weak fluorescein. At 120 min after insemination in vitro, fewer spermatozoa were bound to the zona pellucida of the oocytes treated with BS-II, Con-A and RCA-I. Of the lectins, Con A most inhibited sperm binding. Conclusions: These results suggest that $\beta$-D-Galactose residues in the porcine zona pellucida may act as primary sperm receptors and inducers of the sperm acrosome reaction and these sugar residues may be involved in the block to polyspermy.