CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF TOAD EGG-JELLY IN RELATION TO ITS 'SPERM-CAPACITATING' ACTIVITY

In an attempt to characterize a factor in anuran egg-jelly that is essential for fertilization, dejellied, non-fertilizable eggs of the toad, Bufo bufo , were inseminated in the following jelly preparations: jelly solubilized by KCN followed by dialysis (Dialyzed jelly: DJ), jelly solubilized by ultraviolet irradiation (UVJ), a diffusible factor released from jelly coat into deionized water (DF), the dialyzable fraction of DF (DFD), and the non-dialyzable fraction of DF (DFR). It was found that all the preparations except DFR are active in supporting the fertilization of dejellied eggs. DFD is thermo-stable, and characterized by a rise in pH accompanying increase in concentration. DF obtained from Rana japonica also capacitated the fertilization of dejellied Bufo eggs.
Chemical analyses indicated that DJ, UVJ, DF and DFR contain various amounts of fucose, hexoses, hexosamines, and proteins. Sialic acid was present in DJ and UVJ, but not in DF. In DFD, only hexoses and proteins were detectable to a measurable degree. A salient feature of the paper chromatographic analyses was the predominance in DFD of an unspecified reducing sugar which was found in common in all the preparations with fertilization-supporting activity. Gel-filtration in combination with bioassay for fertilization led to the isolation of the active substance, which had a molecular weight of less than 500, and was characterized by a basic nature and the presence of a reducing sugar.
The possible importance in fertilization of this small molecular weight jelly component is stressed, together with the suggestion that the component represents some terminal group of the jelly macromolecule in either diffusible or non-diffusible form.     

Xenopus laevis egg jelly contains small proteins that are essential to fertilization.

The eggs of Xenopus laevis are surrounded by investment layers of egg jelly that interact with the sperm immediately prior to fertilization. Components of these egg jelly layers are necessary for the fertilization of the egg by incoming sperm. Eggs which are stripped of their jelly layers are refractile to fertilization by sperm, but the addition of solubilized jelly promotes fertilization. We have shown previously that the egg jelly layers are composed of a fibrous network of glycoconjugates which loosely hold smaller diffusible components. Extracts of these diffusible components were prepared by incubation of freshly ovulated eggs in high-salt buffers for 12 h at 4 degrees C. This diffusible component extract, when incubated with sperm, promoted the sperm's ability to fertilize dejellied eggs in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, the high-molecular-weight "structural" glycoconjugates of jelly that remain after extraction of the diffusible components did not increase fertilization efficiency of dejellied eggs nor did nonspecific proteins, carbohydrate polymers, or organic polymers. The diffusible components, analyzed by SDS-PAGE, consisted of a mixture of proteins from 4 to 180 kDa. The protein responsible for fertilization rescue appeared to be <50 kDa and appeared to self-aggregate or to bind to larger proteins. This protein component was required during sperm binding to the egg, its action required an intact egg vitelline envelope, and its action was independent of large soluble polymers such as Ficoll.     

CHANGES IN THE LEVEL OF ARGININE PHOSPHATE FOLLOWING FERTILIZATION OF ECHINODERM EGGS*

The content of arginine phosphate was measured following fertilization of sea-urchin eggs and starfish oocytes. In sea-urchin eggs, a rise in the level of arginine phosphate occurred within 2 min after insemination: this was not accompanied by any detectable alteration in the level of ATP. On the other hand, the level of arginine phosphate in starfish oocytes did not change on fertilization.     

Removal of the fertilization membrane of sea urchin embryos employing aminotriazole

A simple method is presented for removal of the fertilization membrane of sea urchin embryos. The procedure is based on the requirement for peroxidative activity in the membrane hardening process. The presence of a peroxidase inhibitor, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, at insemination effectively prevents hardening of the fertilization membrane and allows for its mechanical or enzymatic removal prior to hatching. Embryos suffer no physical damage from this procedure and do not clump when cultured in normal sea water. Embryonic development is unaffected by the inhibitor.     

Effect of concentration of spermatozoids on fertilization of oocytes and human embryo development in vitro

The correlation between sperm insemination concentrations, rates of normal and abnormal fertilization and embryo development was investigated. For male factor patients fertilization rates are significantly lower than for female factor. We have found the increased fertilization rate for male factor, if insemination concentration increased from 10 x 10(4) to 15 x 10(4) per 1 ml. In cases of severe male factor infertility the concentration of sperm of 30 x 10(4) per 1 ml had no effect. We have found no difference in abnormal rates of fertilization, when the number of sperm increased in male factor. The correlation between the frequency of polysperm zygote and slightly increased insemination concentration was observed in patients with normal sperm.     

Xenopus laevis Egg Jelly Contains Small Proteins That Are Essential to Fertilization

The eggs of Xenopus laevis are surrounded by investment layers of egg jelly that interact with the sperm immediately prior to fertilization. Components of these egg jelly layers are necessary for the fertilization of the egg by incoming sperm. Eggs which are stripped of their jelly layers are refractile to fertilization by sperm, but the addition of solubilized jelly promotes fertilization. We have shown previously that the egg jelly layers are composed of a fibrous network of glycoconjugates which loosely hold smaller diffusible components. Extracts of these diffusible components were prepared by incubation of freshly ovulated eggs in high-salt buffers for 12 h at 4°C. This diffusible component extract, when incubated with sperm, promoted the sperm's ability to fertilize dejellied eggs in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, the high-molecular-weight “structural” glycoconjugates of jelly that remain after extraction of the diffusible components did not increase fertilization efficiency of dejellied eggs nor did nonspecific proteins, carbohydrate polymers, or organic polymers. The diffusible components, analyzed by SDS–PAGE, consisted of a mixture of proteins from 4 to 180 kDa. The protein responsible for fertilization rescue appeared to be <50 kDa and appeared to self-aggregate or to bind to larger proteins. This protein component was required during sperm binding to the egg, its action required an intact egg vitelline envelope, and its action was independent of large soluble polymers such as Ficoll.     

Total fertilization failure and idiopathic subfertility

Background  

To gain more insight in whether failure of intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatment in patients with idiopathic subfertility could be related to diminished fertilization, the aim of this study is to compare the fertilization of an initial IVF procedure after six cycles of IUI and the fertilization of an initial IVF procedure without preceding IUI cycles in couples with idiopathic subfertility.     

泥鳅精子和卵子结构及受精过程的细胞学观察

研究旨在探讨泥鳅精子受精时限及为其人工繁殖提供基础资料。采用光镜、电镜技术对泥鳅（Misgurnus anguillicaudatus）精子、卵子和不同时间段的受精卵进行了观察。结果显示:泥鳅精子头部无顶体,主要为核占据,核凹窝较浅,中段具不对称的袖套,尾部轴丝为9+2结构,无侧鳍。卵子动物极卵膜仅有一受精孔,受精孔为深凹陷、短孔道型。在20-21℃水温条件下,授精后3s,精子开始穿过精孔管或已经进入卵子;授精后5-8s,形成精子星光;授精后70s,卵子处于第二次减数分裂后期;授精后6-8min,第二极体形成,等待排出;授精后20-25min,雌雄原核融合;授精后25-30min,受精卵进入第一次有丝分裂中期;授精后40-45min,第一次有丝分裂结束,二细胞形成。研究表明:成熟卵子精孔管内口径（2.2860.364）m,而精子头部直径与其接近,单精受精;入水后150s内可受精。     

Morphogenetic Studies on Osmunda cinnamomea L.: THE AUXIN RELATIONSHIPS OF EXPANDING FRONDS

Net production of diffusible auxin by fronds of O. cinnamomeahas been found to extend throughout the period of final expansion,with a maximum which occurs shortly after the rate of elongationhas reached its maximum and begun to decline. Auxin is apparentlyproduced only in the pinnae, and from these it enters the rachiswhere its movement is polar. Diffusible auxin moves throughthe rachis without significant loss except in the region ofextensive elongation where a certain amount disappears. No suchdisappearance was found in ether extraction studies. Moreover,in certain cases, ether-extractable auxin persists for as muchas 48 hours in the rachis after removal of the auxin source,although none can be obtained by diffusion under these conditions.It is concluded that diffusible auxin is more closely relatedto growth phenomena in the frond than is extractable auxin.In many cases, there is an apparent failure of transport inthe leaf base which reduces or eliminates expected auxin yieldsby diffusion at this level. Diffusible auxin is an essentialparticipant in three morphogenetic phenomena in the developingfrond: rachis elongation, crozier uncoiling, and final differentiationof xylem and hypodermal sclerenchyma. In none of these can itbe considered as a specific determining factor since the responseto auxin depends upon the physiological state of the reactingcells. In the intact frond diffusible auxin is present in excessof the minimum required for both rachis elongation and uncoiling.Several aspects of the relationship between auxin distributionand development in the frond are discussed.     

THE SURFACE EVENTS AT FERTILIZATION OF THE SEA URCHIN EGG I. EVENTS ON THE SURFACE OF THE VITELLINE COAT1

Sperm-egg interaction during normal fertilization in the sea urchins, Strongylocentrotus intermedius and Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus, was studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Several seconds after insemination, acrosome-reacted spermatozoa were found attached to the surface of the vitelline coat on each egg. Soon, several bulges of the vitelline coat appeared surrounding the fertilizing spermatozoon. These bulges then spread over the surface increasing in number, while they became fewer and disappeared around the sperm head. Thin sections of the bulging areas revealed discharging cortical granules. As the bulging vitelline coat was elevated, the sperm head was incorporated into the perivitelline space, passing through a small hole in the coat that resulted from penetration of the sperm acrosomal process immediately before fusion of the gametes. When the spermatozoon disappeared beneath the fertilization membrane, a hole was left in the membrane and the cortical reaction had finished on the other hemispheric surface. Mechanical removal of the membrane at that time exposed a spermatozoon protruding perpendicularly from the egg plasma membrane surface. The anterior tip of the sperm head was smoothly connected with the egg surface, and neither microvillous projections nor cytoplasmic covering of the egg cytoplasm could be found around the spermatozoon.     

A “NORMAL” DEVELOPMENT OF DENUDED EGGS OF THE STARFISH,ASTERINA PECTINIFERA*

Experimental conditions that allow “normal” development of starfish eggs stripped of the fertilization membrane are reported in this paper. Four kinds of intercellular relation are distinguished during the pre-hatching stages of these eggs. Cells from 2- to 8-cell stages are hardly related to each other, while those from 16- to 128-cell stages are bound loosely together. After the 8th division (about 5.5 hr after insemination at 21°C) cells adhere closely and cooperate with each other to perform morphogenetic movement of “blastulation”. This relation is taken over by that of a true multicellular system at about 10 hr after insemination. Closely after this, the function of cilia carries the embryo away from the substratum.     

罗氏沼虾受精机制的细胞学研究

运用细胞学方法对罗氏沼虾的受精机理进行了初步研究,从卵巢中取邮的成熟卵,表面略有皱褶,无受精孔,不同于一般的节肢动物。成熟精子基部侧边分布许多成束的管状结构,其末端呈连续泡状。精卵接触时,这些泡破裂,膜与卵表膜融合,泡内的糖复合物对精卵识别,粘附可能起着重要和,从而使精子以基部侧边附着卵子表面,。     

Identification of embryo paternity using polymorphic DNA markers to assess fertilizing capacity of spermatozoa after heterospermic insemination in boars

Differences in sperm fertilizing capacity of males often remain undetected by routine semen parameters. Heterospermic insemination with equal numbers of spermatozoa from 2 males is an accurate method for assessing differences in fertility. Use of heterospermic insemination depends on a reliable, efficient assay to identify paternity of conceptuses or offspring. In this study, polymorphic DNA markers amplified by PCR were tested to determine paternity of Day 5 to 6 embryos. The fertilizing capacity of 2 boars (A and B) with similar semen parameters was compared after homospermic (n=14 gilts) and heterospermic (n=11 gilts) insemination. Single AI's were performed under suboptimal conditions using 1 x 10(9) spermatozoa at 12 to 24 h before ovulation to prompt differences in fertilization and to stimulate sperm competition. The fertilization rate and the number of accessory spermatozoa were determined in Day 5 to 6 embryos. Using 5 different polymorphic DNA markers, paternity could be determined in 95.8% of the embryos. Boar B sired significantly (P<0.05) more offspring than Boar A after insemination with pooled semen, and this was reflected by a significantly (P<0.05) higher number of accessory spermatozoa following homospermic insemination with semen from Boar B, although fertilization rates did not differ between the 2 boars after homospermic insemination. The results suggest that the viability of spermatozoa in the female reproductive tract contributes to differences in fertility rates of males with similar in vitro sperm quality parameters. The number of accessory spermatozoa is a more sensitive measure of boar fertility than the fertilization rate. Polymorphic DNA markers are suitable for verification of parentage even at a very early stage of embryonic development.     

Comparison of strains and culture media used for mouse in vitro fertilization

Success rates of superovulation in response to gonadotropic hormone treatment and in vitro fertilization (ie, mitotic cleavage following insemination) of mouse eggs from outbred CD-1, hybrid CB6F_l, or hybrid B6CBAF₁, mice were compared using either a mouse inseminationmedium, modified Krebs-Ringer-bicarbonate (m-KRB), or a human insemination medium, Ham's F10 nutrient mixture. Inseminations were performed in either organ culture dishes or screw-top, flat-side tissue culture tubes. Mean superovulation rates (± SD) were 24.2 (5.1) for CD-1, 33.0 (5.8) for CB6F₁, and 16.3 (6.6) for B6CBAF₁ mice. For in vitro cleavage the best combination of mouse strain, insemination medium, and culture container was achieved using CB6F₁, mice, m-KRB medium, and culture tubes. However, Ham's medium used with either hybrid mouse strain was shown to be employable for fertilization of mouse eggs in vitro as a quality control assay and/or experimental model system for testing the human in vitro fertilization procedure.     

Insemination factors related to timed AI in cattle

Six-day-old bovine ova/embryos were recovered non-surgically and used as biomonitors to evaluate time of artificial insemination. These embryos/ova provided information regarding fertilization status and embryo quality, as well as quantitative and qualitative data regarding associated accessory sperm. Both sperm access to the ovum (addressed by accessory sperm) and fertilization status/embryo quality were important in addressing pregnancy rate for specific intervals from the onset of estrus to insemination. Based on these biomonitors, early insemination failed to achieve optimum pregnancy rate due to inadequate access of sperm to the ovum (i.e., low fertilization rate, manifested by low accessory sperm numbers). However, embryo quality was high in early inseminations, which favors pregnancy. Late insemination failed to achieve optimum pregnancy rate (due to reduced embryo quality), however, sperm access to the ovum was highest. Thus, the selection of an insemination time to achieve optimum pregnancy rate appeared to be a compromise between the two extreme intervals. For timed-AI programs, consideration of the time of ovulation (and its variability) becomes important, in addition to conventional considerations, such as semen handling, site of insemination, and bull selection.     

MORPHOLOGY OF GAMETE MEMBRANE FUSION AND OF SPERM ENTRY INTO OOCYTES OF THE SEA URCHIN

Sea urchin gametes predominate in molecular studies of fertilization, yet relatively little is known of the subcellular aspects of sperm entry in this group. Accordingly, it seemed desirable to make a detailed examination of sperm entry phenomena in sea urchins with the electron microscope. Gametes of the sea urchins Arbacia punctulata and Lytechinus variegatus were used in this study. Samples of eggs containing 2 to 8 per cent oocytes were selected and fixed with osmium tetroxide in sea water at various intervals after insemination. Fixed specimens were embedded in Epon 812, sectioned, and examined with an electron microscope. An apical vesicle was observed at the anterior end of the acrosome. The presence of this structure, together with other observations, suggested that initiation of the acrosome reaction in sea urchin sperm involves dehiscence of the acrosomal region with the subsequent release of the acrosomal granule. Contact and initial fusion of gamete membranes was observed in mature eggs and oocytes and invariably involved the extended acrosomal tubule of the spermatozoon. Only one spermatozoon normally enters the mature egg. The probability of locating such a sperm in ultrathin sections is exceedingly low. Several sperm do normally enter oocytes. Consequently, observations of sperm entry were primarily restricted to the latter. The manner of sperm entry into oocytes did not resemble phagocytosis. Organelles of the spermatozoon were progressively divested of their plasma membrane as they entered the ground cytoplasm of the oocyte fertilization cone. Initiation of the acrosome reaction, contact and initial fusion of gamete membranes, and sperm entry into oocytes of sea urchins conform to the Hydroides-Saccoglossus pattern of early fertilization events as described by Colwin and Colwin (13).     

Fertility of cooled and frozen rabbit sperm measured by competitive fertilization

The fertility of rabbit sperm that had been cooled to 5 degrees C or frozen and thawed was determined by competitive fertilization. Treatments were identified by labeling sperm with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) or tetramethylrhodamine B isothiocyanate (TRITC). Sperm from different treatments were mixed and used in a competitive insemination experiment. Does were inseminated 5, 10 or 15 h prior to ovulation. Time of ovulation was controlled by injections of luteinizing hormone. The functional sperm transport, as determined by the number of sperm transported to the site of fertilization and capable of fertilizing oocytes, was estimated by counting the total number of differently stained sperm that surrounded or fertilized each oocyte. The fertility of sperm cooled to 5 degrees C was not affected (p less than 0.05) as compared to fertility of uncooled sperm. Functional sperm transport at all times of insemination and fertilization ratio at insemination 10 or 15 h before ovulation were reduced (p less than 0.05) for frozen-thawed vs. cooled sperm. No difference in fertilization ratio (p greater than 0.05) occurred, however, when does were inseminated 5 h before ovulation. While sperm survival and capacitation time appeared to play roles in fertility of frozen-thawed sperm, the most important factor was reduced functional sperm transport. However, fertility of frozen-thawed sperm was improved when the time from insemination to ovulation was reduced.     

Sperm binding, in vitro fertilization, and in vitro embryonic development of bovine oocytes fertilized with spermatozoa incubated with norepinephrine

The final stages of sperm maturation, fertilization, and early embryonic development occur within the oviduct and are essential for successful reproduction in mammals. Norepinephrine was previously identified in native bovine oviductal fluid and its in vitro effects on bull sperm capacitation and the acrosome reaction have been determined. It was unknown how physiological concentrations of norepinephrine influence sperm binding, fertilization, and embryo development. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine if pre-incubating bovine spermatozoa with physiological concentrations of norepinephrine prior to insemination of bovine oocytes would improve sperm-oocyte binding, fertilization, and embryonic development in vitro. Norepinephrine, in concentrations representing those measured in bovine oviductal fluid, was used to treat bovine spermatozoa prior to insemination. Spermatozoa incubated in norepinephrine were used to inseminate bovine oocytes matured in vitro, and oocytes were evaluated for sperm binding and fertilization. Additional experiments were conducted to evaluate how early in the co-incubation period oocytes were fertilized by spermatozoa pre-incubated with norepinephrine, and to test the developmental competence of those oocytes fertilized with norepinephrine-treated sperm. Sperm binding to the zona pellucida was reduced by pre-incubation with norepinephrine. Rates of fertilization and embryo development did not increase as a result of pre-incubating spermatozoa with norepinephrine, but as early as 4h after insemination, spermatozoa treated with 20 ng/ml norepinephrine fertilized more oocytes than spermatozoa incubated in medium alone. Interestingly, this concentration of norepinephrine was found to capacitate spermatozoa in previous studies. These data suggest that oocytes fertilized by spermatozoa incubated in 20 ng/ml norepinephrine fertilize earlier in vitro than sperm pre-incubated in medium alone, and provide additional support for the role of norepinephrine in sperm capacitation and the acrosome reaction.     

The use of synthetic gonadotropin releasing hormone treatment in the collection of sheep embryos

Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) treatment was examined as a means of improving the efficacy of embryo collection in the sheep following intrauterine insemination of frozen-thawed semen. In summary, treatment consistently improved fertilization rates and the number of fertilized ova collected per ewe was enhanced compared with untreated ewes. The yield of fertilized ova in ewes treated with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) was maximized by administering GnRH 36 h after progestagen treatment; 24 h was the preferred time in ewes treated with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG). There was a significant (P < 0.001) increase in the percentage of unfertilized ova in the former treatment when GnRH was given at 24 h. An examination of the time of insemination (0, 6, 12 and 18 h before the median time of ovulation) indicated that fertilization rates were highest when insemination occurred at 6 h in both GnRH-treated ewes and in untreated ewes. In GnRH-treated ewes, the recovery of ova was lowest when insemination occurred at the time of ovulation. The number of motile frozen-thawed spermatozoa required for fertilization following treatment was estimated to be approximately 20 x 10(6) per uterine horn. GnRH-treatment also improved the yield of fertilized ova in sheep that were naturally mated, although this yield was lower than that obtained with intrauterine insemination of frozen-thawed semen. It is concluded that fertilization failure, a major problem in sheep embryo collection, can be eliminated through judicious use of GnRH treatment and properly timed intrauterine insemination.     

FORMATION OF JOINED LARVAE IN THE STARFISH, ASTERINA PECTINIFERA

A method for joining larvae in the starfish, Asterina pectinifera , is presented. Any number of embryos are stably united by simple contact of the cell clusters (descendents of individual denuded eggs) before reaching the early blastula stage (ca. 6 1/2 hr after insemination at 21°C). Embryos do not combine with each other after closing into hollow blastulae. This is considered to indicate the transformation of the cell cluster from a mere collection of cells to an individual, multicellular system. Biological meanings of the fertilization membrane are discussed.