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Oogenesis

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In human women, oogenesis produces one mature egg cell or ovum for every precursor cell that enters meiosis. This process differs in two unique ways from the equivalent procedure of spermatogenesis in males. First, meiotic divisions during oogenesis are asymmetric, meaning that a large oocyte (containing most of the cytoplasm) and minor polar body are produced as a result of meiosis I, and again following meiosis II. Since only oocytes will go on to form embryos if fertilized, this unequal...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Mouse Round Spermatid Injection

Mouse Round Spermatid Injection

Published on: January 26, 2024

How do spermatozoa activate oocytes?

Brian Dale¹, Martin Wilding, Gianfranco Coppola

¹CFA-Italia, Naples and Stazione Zoologica, Naples, Italy. brian.dale@virgilio.it

Reproductive Biomedicine Online

|April 10, 2010

Summary

Spermatozoa trigger oocyte activation via a soluble factor, likely phospholipase C zeta 1, initiating crucial physiological changes for fertilization across diverse species. Comparative studies enhance understanding of this ubiquitous sperm-borne trigger.

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Area of Science:

Reproductive Biology
Developmental Biology
Cellular Physiology

Background:

Spermatozoa, despite their small size, induce significant oocyte activation, leading to meiosis re-initiation.
Oocyte activation involves conserved events like plasma membrane conductance changes and calcium ion release across animal species.

Purpose of the Study:

To describe oocyte activation events and the evidence for a soluble sperm-borne activating factor.
To explore the ubiquitous nature of the sperm-borne trigger and identify key candidates like phospholipase C (PLC) zeta 1.
To investigate comparative fertilization principles across deuterostomes.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on oocyte activation and sperm-borne factors.
Analysis of conserved physiological changes in oocytes during fertilization.
Comparative study of gametes from humans, sea urchins, and ascidians.

Main Results:

Evidence supports a soluble, ubiquitous sperm-borne factor responsible for oocyte activation.
Phospholipase C (PLC) zeta 1 is a likely candidate for inducing calcium release in mammalian oocytes.
Comparative studies suggest the sperm factor may be non-specific and multifactorial.

Conclusions:

The sperm-borne trigger for oocyte activation is likely conserved across deuterostomes.
Further research should focus on identifying PLC zeta 1 in invertebrates and other mammalian oocyte targets.
Comparative studies across species are crucial for understanding fundamental fertilization mechanisms.