Decrease in CD9 content and reorganization of microvilli may contribute to the oolemma block to sperm penetration during fertilization of mouse oocyte

Tetraspanin CD9 is the only protein of the oocyte membrane (oolemma) known to be required for the fusion of gametes during fertilization in the mouse. Using electron microscopy and immunostaining we examined the differences in localization of CD9 between ovulated oocytes, zygotes and parthenogenetic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Zygote (Cambridge) 2010-08, Vol.18 (3), p.195-201
Main Authors: Żyłkiewicz, Eliza, Nowakowska, Julita, Maleszewski, Marek
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antigens, CD - analysis
Antigens, CD - metabolism
Block to polyspermy
Cell Membrane - metabolism
Electron microscopy
Fertilization
Gamete fusion
Male
Membrane Glycoproteins - analysis
Membrane Glycoproteins - metabolism
Mice
Microvilli - metabolism
Oocytes - chemistry
Oocytes - physiology
Oocytes - ultrastructure
Sperm-Ovum Interactions - physiology
Tetraspanin-29
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Summary:Tetraspanin CD9 is the only protein of the oocyte membrane (oolemma) known to be required for the fusion of gametes during fertilization in the mouse. Using electron microscopy and immunostaining we examined the differences in localization of CD9 between ovulated oocytes, zygotes and parthenogenetically activated eggs (parthenogenotes). Changes in ultrastructure of oolemma, which take place in oocytes after fertilization or artificial activation, were also assessed. We demonstrated that after fertilization the level of CD9 present on microvilli of zygote was two times lower than its level on the oolemma of the oocyte. In addition, we showed that the distribution of microvilli is less uniform in the zygotes than in the unfertilized oocytes. We propose that the changes of microvilli distribution and their CD9 content are responsible for the development of the oocyte membrane block to sperm penetration.
ISSN:0967-1994
1469-8730
DOI:10.1017/S0967199409990189