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Freeze-Fracture Observations on the Interaction of Human Spermatozoa with Zona-Free Hamster Oocytes

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The Sperm Cell

Abstract

The use of zona-free oocytes, particularly those of the golden hamster, in fertilization studies has grown steadily since the discovery that zona removal greatly diminishes the block to interspecies fertilization (2). Such studies have added to our knowledge of the basic structural and functional relationships involved in sperm-egg interactions as well as providing a useful clinical tool in the assessment of male fertility (3–5). We report here on ultrastructural studies of the interaction between human sperm and zona-free hamster oocytes. Emphasis is placed on the results of freeze-fracture studies which provide views of internal membrane structure of the interacting sperm and egg. Oocyte microvilli play a role in this interaction and will be a focus for the discussion.

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© 1983 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, The Hague

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Koehler, J.K., de Curtis, I., Stenchever, M.A., Smith, D. (1983). Freeze-Fracture Observations on the Interaction of Human Spermatozoa with Zona-Free Hamster Oocytes. In: André, J. (eds) The Sperm Cell. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-7675-7_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-7675-7_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-009-7677-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-7675-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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