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The passage of spermatozoa through the vitelline membrane in the domestic fowl, Gallus gallus

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Summary

The developing outer layer of the vitelline membrane of the ovum in the posterior part of the infundibulum of the domestic fowl contains many spermatozoa in nearly parallel orientation with its inner layer. When the acrosomal region of a spermatozoon approaches or contacts the inner layer, promptly undergoes the acrosome reaction. The outer acrosomal membrane and overlying plasma membrane fuse together and the apical region of the acrosome opens, so that the acrosomal contents are released. Meanwhile the spermatozoon remains a time in contact with the surface of the inner layer, and the network of the inner layer just under the tip of the sperm head begins to be dissolved. This dissolution extends downward forming a tunnel, approximately 9 μm in diameter. The spermatozoon then passes through the inner layer obliquely via the central region of the tunnel and arrives at the perivitelline space.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan

    Fukashi Okamura &  Hisayoshi Nishiyama

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  1. Fukashi Okamura
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  2. Hisayoshi Nishiyama
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Additional information

The authors are greatly indebted to assoc. prof. Dr. Osamu Koga for his valuable advices. The authors also wish to thank Mr. Takayuki Mori for his helpful suggestions and technical advices. This investigation was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Education of Japan (156185)

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Okamura, F., Nishiyama, H. The passage of spermatozoa through the vitelline membrane in the domestic fowl, Gallus gallus . Cell Tissue Res. 188, 497–508 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219787

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219787

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