spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif ARCHIVE ANNOUNCEMENT! spacer gif
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


spacer gif
     Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents    

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Amanze, D.
Right arrow Articles by Iyengar, A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Amanze, D.
Right arrow Articles by Iyengar, A.

Development, Vol 109, Issue 2 495-500, Copyright © 1990 by Company of Biologists

JOURNAL ARTICLES

The micropyle: a sperm guidance system in teleost fertilization

D Amanze and A Iyengar
Department of Biology, University of Southampton, Bassett Crescent East, UK.

The micropylar region of the Rosy barb, Barbus conchonius, egg consists of 7-10 grooves and ridges, which drain directly into a funnel-shaped vestibule, the only point on the chorion through which sperm-egg contact is achieved during fertilization. Results of time-lapse video microscope study and computer-aided analysis of sperm motility pattern in the micropylar region showed that the fertilizing sperm, usually the first to enter the micropylar region, always travelled preferentially along the grooves into the micropylar pit. Subsequently, 86% of sperm arriving the micropylar region within 30 s travelled preferentially along the grooves into the immediate vicinity of the micropylar pit. The sperm guidance role of the micropylar region was calculated to enhance chances of egg penetration/fertilization by as much as 99.7% once sperm were within the micropylar region, possibly in response to some form of chemo-attractant(s) from the egg. Sperm agglutination post-fertilization was also found to occur preferentially along the grooves. Results of our in vitro fertilization experiments showed association between point of sperm entry and blastodisc formation: the blastodisc formed directly beneath the micropyle in all undisturbed eggs.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 ReproductionHome page
J. Cosson, A.-L. Groison, M. Suquet, C. Fauvel, C. Dreanno, and R. Billard
Marine fish spermatozoa: racing ephemeral swimmers
Reproduction, September 1, 2008; 136(3): 277 - 294.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 DevelopmentHome page
T Rankin, P Talbot, E Lee, and J Dean
Abnormal zonae pellucidae in mice lacking ZP1 result in early embryonic loss
Development, January 9, 1999; 126(17): 3847 - 3855.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 DevelopmentHome page
T. Rankin, Z. Tong, P. Castle, E Lee, R Gore-Langton, L. Nelson, and J Dean
Human ZP3 restores fertility in Zp3 null mice without affecting order-specific sperm binding
Development, January 7, 1998; 125(13): 2415 - 2424.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 DevelopmentHome page
S. Ray, S. Park, and A Ray
Pollen tube guidance by the female gametophyte
Development, January 6, 1997; 124(12): 2489 - 2498.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Biol. Chem.Home page
O. Epifano, L.-f. Liang, and J. Dean
Mouse Zp1 Encodes a Zona Pellucida Protein Homologous to Egg Envelope Proteins in Mammals and Fish
J. Biol. Chem., November 10, 1995; 270(45): 27254 - 27258.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


© The Company of Biologists Ltd 1990