Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Spontaneous zona reaction in the mouse as a limiting factor for the time in which an oocyte May be fertilized

  • Special Contributions
  • Published:
Journal of in Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of ovum aging on the in vitro fertilizability of mouse ova. Over 1347 ova were evaluated. Serial trypsin digestion of in vitro and in vivo aged ova revealed an increase in zona digestion time (0.25% trypsin) beginning at 40 hr, which increased over a 40-hr period and resulted in the unfertilized zona becoming as “hard” as the fertilized embryo zona. In vitro fertilizability showed a rapid decrease as zona hardening occurred with loss of cortical granules as assessed by electron microscopy. These data suggest that the window of fertilizability is “closed” by a spontaneous zona reaction occurring at about 55 hr post-human chorionic gonadotropin with loss of cortical granules and zona hardening as manifested by increasing zona digestion time with 0.25% trypsin.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wolf DP, Inoue M: Sperm concentration dependency in the fertilization and zonae sperm binding properties of mouse eggs inseminatedin vitro. Exp Zool 1975;196:27–37

    Google Scholar 

  2. Gulyas BJ: Cortical granules of mammalian eggs. Int Rev Cytol 1980;63:357–392

    Google Scholar 

  3. Wolf DP: The mammalian egg's block to polyspermy.In Fertilization and Embryonic Developmentin vitro, L Mastrioianni, JD Biggers (eds) New York, Raven Press, 1981, pp 183–197

    Google Scholar 

  4. Wassarman PM: The biology and chemistry of fertilization. Science 1987;235:553–560

    Google Scholar 

  5. Chang MC, Hunt DM: Effects of proteolytic enzymes on the zona pellucida of fertilized and unfertilized mammalian eggs. Exp Cell Res 1956;11:497–499

    Google Scholar 

  6. Gould K, Zaneveld LJD, Srivastava PN, Williams WL: Biochemical changes in the zona pellucida of rabbit ova induced by fertilization and sperm enzymes. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1971;136:6–10

    Google Scholar 

  7. Inoue M, Wolf DP: Fertilization-associated changes in the murine zona pellucida: A time sequence study. Biol Reprod 1975;13:546–551

    Google Scholar 

  8. Adams CE, Chang MC: The effect of delayed mating on fertilization in the rabbit. J Exp Zool 1962;151:155–158

    Google Scholar 

  9. Dziuk PJ, Polge C: Fertility in swine after induced ovulation. J Reprod Fertil 1962;4:207

    Google Scholar 

  10. Juetten J, Bavister BD: Effects of egg aging onin vitro fertilization and first cleavage division in the hamster. Gamete Res 1983;8:219–230

    Google Scholar 

  11. Marston JH, Chang MC: The fertilizable life of ova and their morphology following delayed insemination in mature and immature mice. J Exp Zool 1964;155:237–251

    Google Scholar 

  12. Guerrero R, Rojas OI: Spontaneous abortion and aging of human ova and spermatozoa. N Engl J Med 1975;293:573–575

    Google Scholar 

  13. Critser ES, First NL: Use of a fluroescent stain for visualization of nuclear material in living oocytes and embryos. Stain Technol 1986;61:1–5

    Google Scholar 

  14. Longo FJ: Aging of mouse eggsin vivo andin vitro. Gamete Res 1980;3:379–393

    Google Scholar 

  15. Watson ML: Staining of tissue sections for electron microscopy with heavy metals. J Biophys Biochem Cytol 1958;4:475–478

    Google Scholar 

  16. Reynolds ES: The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron opaque stain in electron microscopy. J Cell Biol 1963;17:208–212

    Google Scholar 

  17. Sato K: Polyspermy-preventing mechanisms in mouse eggs fertilizedin vitro. J Exp Zool 1979;210:353–359

    Google Scholar 

  18. Wasserman PM: The zona pellucida: A coat of many colors. BioEssays 1987;6:161–166

    Google Scholar 

  19. Gulyas BJ, Schmell ED: Ovoperoxidase activity in ionophore treated mouse eggs. I. Electron microscopic localization. Gamete Res 1980;3:267

    Google Scholar 

  20. Schmell ED, Gulyas BJ: Ovoperoxidase activity in ionophore treated mouse eggs. II. Evidence for the enzyme's role in hardening the zona pellucida. Gamete Res 1980;3:279

    Google Scholar 

  21. Wolf DP, Hamada M: Age dependent losses in penetrability of mouse eggs. J Reprod Fertil 1976;48:213–214

    Google Scholar 

  22. Miller MA, Masui Y: Changes in the sulfhydryl level in the sperm nucleus during sperm-oocyte interaction. Gamete Res 1982;5:167–179

    Google Scholar 

  23. Flechon JE, Huneau D, Solari A, Thibault C: Reaction corticale et blocage dela polyspermie dans l'oeuf de lapine. Ann Biol Anim Biochim Biophys 1975;15:9–15

    Google Scholar 

  24. Longo FJ: Ultrastructural changes in rabbit eggs agedin vivo. Biol Reprod 1974;11:22–39

    Google Scholar 

  25. Overstreet JW, Bedford JM: Comparison of the penetrability of the egg vestments in follicular oocytes, unfertilized and fertilized ova of the rabbit. Dev Biol 1974;41:185–192

    Google Scholar 

  26. Kaleta E: Sperm penetrationin vitro into ovarian and tubal oocytes from mice of the inbred KE and C57 strains. Gamete Res 1979;2:99–104

    Google Scholar 

  27. Wabik-Sliz B: Number of cortical granules in mouse oocytes from inbred strains differing in efficiency of fertilization. Biol Reprod 1979;21:89–97

    Google Scholar 

  28. Okada A, Yanagimachi R, Yanagimachi H: Development of a cortical granule-free area of cortex and the perivitelline space in the hamster oocyte during maturation and following ovulation. J Submicrosc Cytol 1986;18:233–247

    Google Scholar 

  29. Nicosia SV, Inoue M, Wolf DP: An ultrastructural study of cortical granule dehiscence in mouse eggs inseminatedin vitro. Fertil Steril 1975;26:198–199

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, East Tennessee State University, Quillen-Dishner College of Medicine, P.O. Box 19570A, 37614, Johnson City, Tennessee

    Melvin G. Dodson, Brijinder S. Minhas & Thomas V. Palmer

  2. Department of Biophysics, East Tennessee State University, Quillen-Dishner College of Medicine, 37614, Johnson City, Tennessee

    Sherill K. Curtis

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Quillen-Dishner College of Medicine, 37614, Johnson City, Tennessee

    J. Leonard Robertson

Authors
  1. Melvin G. Dodson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Brijinder S. Minhas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sherill K. Curtis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Thomas V. Palmer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J. Leonard Robertson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dodson, M.G., Minhas, B.S., Curtis, S.K. et al. Spontaneous zona reaction in the mouse as a limiting factor for the time in which an oocyte May be fertilized. J Assist Reprod Genet 6, 101–106 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01130735

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01130735

Key Words

Search

Navigation