Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Sperm-egg interactions preparatory to fertilization.

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology

|January 1, 1986

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Spermatozoon activation involves shutting down its metabolism upon egg interaction, while egg activation begins with sperm attachment, not incorporation. This clarifies key fertilization events in marine organisms.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Wilhelm Roux' Archiv fur Entwicklungsmechanik der Organismen·2017

Same author

Wilhelm Roux' Archiv fur Entwicklungsmechanik der Organismen·2017

Same author

Cyclic variations of the submicroscopic structure of the cortical layer of fertilized and parthenogenetic sea urchin eggs.

Nature·2010

Same author

Of some cortical phenomena that accompany the fertilization and the first divisions of the sea urchin egg.

Experientia·2010

Same author

Hyaluronidase in sea-urchin sperm.

Nature·2010

Same author

Further observations on the fine structure of the cortical layer of unfertilized and fertilized sea urchin eggs.

Journal of cellular and comparative physiology·2010

Same journal

Mammalian Respiratory Chain Complex Assemblies and Their Links to Mitochondria Stress-Induced Human Diseases.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026

Same journal

Enzyme Assemblies in Nucleotide Metabolism: Structure, Regulation, and Disease Implications.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026

Same journal

The Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex: A 90-Year-Old Enigma Shaping the Future of Structural Enzymology.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026

Same journal

Regulation of the Anti-termination RNA Transcription Complex by Lon-Mediated Lambda N Degradation.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026

Same journal

PCNA Macromolecular Complexes: PCNA Serves as a Molecular Hub Regulating Multiple Cellular Processes Inside and Outside of the Nucleus.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026

Same journal

Dynamic Assemblies in Genome Maintenance.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026

See all related articles

Area of Science:

Reproductive Biology
Developmental Biology
Cellular Biology

Background:

Fertilization requires mutual gamete activation, a concept introduced by Boveri in 1902.
Previous research on sea urchin and ascidian fertilization laid the groundwork for understanding gamete interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the precise mechanisms of spermatozoon and egg activation during fertilization.
To differentiate between sperm incorporation and sperm attachment in triggering egg activation.

Main Methods:

Analysis of existing experimental evidence from sea urchin and ascidian fertilization studies.
Review of molecular and cellular events occurring during gamete interaction.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

Spermatozoon activation is proposed to be a "switching off" of its metabolic processes upon binding to egg envelope receptors, preceding egg fusion.
Egg activation is initiated by spermatozoon attachment to the egg plasma membrane, independent of sperm incorporation.

Conclusions:

Spermatozoon activation is a preparatory step involving metabolic downregulation.
Egg activation is triggered by the initial sperm-egg plasma membrane interaction, highlighting distinct roles in fertilization.