Involvement of Esterases in Sperm Penetration of the Corona Radiata of the Ovum

Abstract

During fertilization the spermatozoon must penetrate several layers surrounding the ovum prior to actual gamete fusion. It has been previously reported that acrosomal extracts of rabbit spermatozoa will disperse the cumulus layer, the corona radiata and the zona pellucida from rabbit ova. The esterolytic activity present in sperm acrosomes is apparently involved in the dispersal of the corona radiata and in the penetration of the intracellular cement of the corona radiata during the fertilization process. Cumulus free ova were subject to dispersal of corona radiata cells by the action of alkaline buffers. This, in conjunction with the observation that the corona was dispersed by esterolytic activity, was indicative of an ester linkage functioning in the macromolecular cementing substance in the intracellular matrix of the corona radiata of rabbit ova.