An ultrastructural study of cross-fertilization (Arbacia female x Mytilus male). 1977

F J Longo

Insemination of sea urchin (Arbacia) ova with mussel (Mytilus) sperm has been accomplished by treating eggs with trypsin and suspending the gametes in seawater made alkaline with NaOH. Not all inseminated eggs undergo a cortical granule reaction. Some eggs either elevate what remains of their vitelline layer or demonstrate no cortical modification whatsoever. After its incorporation into the egg, the nucleus of Mytilus sperm undergoes changes which eventually give rise to the formation of a male pronucleus. Concomitant with these transformations, a sperm aster may develop in association with the centrioles brought into the egg with the spermatozoon. Both the male pronucleus and the sperm aster may then migrate centrad to the female pronucleus. Evidence is presented which suggests that fusion of the male pronuclei from Mytilus sperm with female pronuclei from Arbacia eggs may occur, although this was not directly observed. These results demonstrate that Mytilus sperm nuclei are able to react to conditions within Arbacia eggs and differentiate into male pronuclei.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008870 Microtubules Slender, cylindrical filaments found in the cytoskeleton of plant and animal cells. They are composed of the protein TUBULIN and are influenced by TUBULIN MODULATORS. Microtubule
D009024 Morphogenesis The development of anatomical structures to create the form of a single- or multi-cell organism. Morphogenesis provides form changes of a part, parts, or the whole organism.
D010063 Ovum A mature haploid female germ cell extruded from the OVARY at OVULATION. Egg,Egg, Unfertilized,Ova,Eggs, Unfertilized,Unfertilized Egg,Unfertilized Eggs
D002467 Cell Nucleus Within a eukaryotic cell, a membrane-limited body which contains chromosomes and one or more nucleoli (CELL NUCLEOLUS). The nuclear membrane consists of a double unit-type membrane which is perforated by a number of pores; the outermost membrane is continuous with the ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM. A cell may contain more than one nucleus. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed) Cell Nuclei,Nuclei, Cell,Nucleus, Cell
D004721 Endoplasmic Reticulum A system of cisternae in the CYTOPLASM of many cells. In places the endoplasmic reticulum is continuous with the plasma membrane (CELL MEMBRANE) or outer membrane of the nuclear envelope. If the outer surfaces of the endoplasmic reticulum membranes are coated with ribosomes, the endoplasmic reticulum is said to be rough-surfaced (ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM, ROUGH); otherwise it is said to be smooth-surfaced (ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM, SMOOTH). (King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed) Ergastoplasm,Reticulum, Endoplasmic
D005260 Female Females
D005306 Fertilization The fusion of a spermatozoon (SPERMATOZOA) with an OVUM thus resulting in the formation of a ZYGOTE. Conception,Fertilization, Delayed,Fertilization, Polyspermic,Conceptions,Delayed Fertilization,Delayed Fertilizations,Fertilizations,Fertilizations, Delayed,Fertilizations, Polyspermic,Polyspermic Fertilization,Polyspermic Fertilizations
D000177 Acrosome The cap-like structure covering the anterior portion of SPERM HEAD. Acrosome, derived from LYSOSOMES, is a membrane-bound organelle that contains the required hydrolytic and proteolytic enzymes necessary for sperm penetration of the egg in FERTILIZATION. Acrosomes
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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