Fertilization Mechanisms in Man and MammalsFertilization in mammals normally occUrs within the oviduct, where it is relatively inaccessible to study. However, as a result of painstaking research, most of it carried out over the last five years, this barrier to experimentation has been largely overcome by the development of in vitro fertilization techniques for at least 11 different species, including man. The result has been a rapid increase in our knowledge of the physiological and bio chemical mechanisms involved in the fertilization process. The aim of this book, which is an extension of my recent review of cell surface interactions in fertilization (Gwatkin, 1976), is to present a brief, but well documented, account of the new knowledge that has been attained. Although this book deals with mammalian fertilization mechanisms, I have included some recent experiments on am phibian and invertebrate gametes to supplement the mammalian picture. This information is particularly valuable as the rela tively large number of eggs available from these lower forms has advanced our knowledge of certain fertilization mechanisms beyond what is known in mammals. However, in the interest of brevity, I have omitted details of morphology and minor varia tions between species. For these, and other aspects not covered here, the reader is referred to the books of Austin (1965, 1968), vii viii PREFACE Austin and Short (1972), Metz and Monroy (1969), Monroy (1965), Lord Rothschild (1956a), and Zamboni (l971a). |
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acid acrosin acrosome cap acrosome reaction activity Aketa albumin ampulla Anat Austin Barros Bedford Biol Blandau bovine Brackett Braden brane CaČ Ca2+ capacitated sperm Cell Res Chang cortical granule cortical reaction cumulus cells cumulus oophorus cytoplasm eggs in cumulus eggs in vitro eggs penetrated embryos enzyme Epel epididymal Epididymal sperm Figure follicle fusion gametes golden hamster golden hamster eggs golden hamster sperm Gwatkin hamster spermatozoa Hartree hyaluronidase inhibited inhibitors insemination isolated zonae lectin mammalian egg mammals maturation medium motility mouse eggs Nature London Nicolson observed occurs oocytes oolemma ovarian oviduct ovulation parthenogenetic plasma membrane pronuclear pronucleus protease proteins rabbit eggs rabbit sperm rat eggs receptor released Reprod sea urchin sea urchin eggs seminal plasma serum species sperm capacitation sperm head sperm incubated sperm penetration sperm plasma membrane spermatozoa Steinhardt surface Szollosi tion trypsin tubal eggs Ultrastructure uterus vesicle vitelline membrane vitellus vitro fertilization Zamboni zona pellucida Zool