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Membrane Fusions During Mammalian Fertilization.
Taylor Gierke1, Pulan Liu1, Yonggang Lu2
1Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|May 21, 2026
Summary
Mammalian fertilization involves sperm capacitation and the acrosome reaction to penetrate the oocyte. Following fusion, the oocyte employs a cortical reaction to block polyspermy, ensuring successful reproduction.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Cellular Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Fertilization requires sperm to undergo capacitation and acrosome reaction.
- Sperm must penetrate the zona pellucida and fuse with the oocyte plasma membrane (oolemma).
- Oocyte activates mechanisms to prevent polyspermy after initial sperm fusion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the key molecular and cellular events of mammalian fertilization.
- To describe the processes of sperm capacitation, acrosome reaction, and oocyte fusion.
- To explain the oocyte's mechanisms for blocking polyspermy.
Main Methods:
- Review of established literature on fertilization processes.
- Analysis of molecular interactions between sperm and oocyte.
- Description of cellular events including membrane fusion and cortical granule exocytosis.
Main Results:
- Sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction are essential for zona pellucida penetration.
- Sperm-oocyte recognition, binding, and fusion are mediated by specific surface receptors.
- The oocyte's cortical reaction modifies the zona pellucida and reduces oolemma binding capacity to block polyspermy.
Conclusions:
- Successful fertilization depends on a coordinated sequence of sperm-egg interactions.
- The acrosome reaction facilitates sperm penetration, while the cortical reaction prevents multiple sperm entries.
- Understanding these events is crucial for reproductive medicine and fertility research.
Keywords:
Acrosome proteinsAcrosome reactionCortical reactionFertilizationOolemmaPolyspermy blockSperm–oocyte bindingSperm–oocyte fusionZona pellucidaMore Related Videos
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