Linked Life Data

18159080

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/18159080

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
2007-12-26
pubmed:abstractText
One of the proposed mechanisms of polyspermy block is an increased resistance of the zona pellucida (ZP) to proteolytic digestion (ZP hardening) as a consequence of cortical granule exocytosis that occurs soon after fertilization. However, evidence is available that the zonae pellucidae of freshly ovulated pig and cow oocytes harden considerably before fertilization. It was thought that such pre-fertilization ZP hardening could be involved in the control of polyspermy, and its lack in the oocytes matured in vitro could be one of the reasons for the extremely high incidence of polyspermy in pig in vitro fertilization (IVF). To test this hypothesis, two different types of cross-linking reagents were employed and their effects on ZP hardening and IVF efficiency were examined. The sulfhydryl-reactive cross-linkers produced a slight hardening of ZP (P<0.001) of treated oocytes compared with control oocytes, and totally inhibited sperm penetration into pig oocytes after IVF. In the cow, sperm penetration into eggs was reduced to 10%. It is proposed that formation of disulfide bonds in ZP or blocking of SH groups in the oocyte plasma membrane proteins prevents sperm penetration. An amine-reactive cross-linker was then assayed and produced strong ZP hardening, increasing the incidence of monospermy in both pig and cow oocytes after fertilization. When the cross-linker concentration was optimized, a 45% improvement for pig IVF efficiency was reached. It is proposed that the observed physiological ZP hardening is a mechanism to control polyspermy, differentially affecting various mammalian species and can be imitated by the use of amine-reactive cross-linkers during IVF.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
1470-1626
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
135
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
19-27
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2008
pubmed:articleTitle
Hardening of the zona pellucida of unfertilized eggs can reduce polyspermic fertilization in the pig and cow.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia 30071, Spain. pcoy@um.es
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Comparative Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't