Fertilization in Discoglossus pictus (Anura). I. Sperm-egg interactions in distinct regions of the dimple and occurrence of a late stage of sperm penetration.

The heterogeneity of the egg surface with respect to receptivity to sperm was investigated in Discoglossus pictus; in this species fertilization occurs only in an indentation called the dimple, at the center of the animal hemisphere. Following insemination sperm are seen in the outermost jelly layers and in the lens-shaped jelly plug, converging to the dimple center, D1. A fertilization potential (FP) is recorded 30 sec following insemination. About 30 min after fertilization, when fertilization cones can be detected easily, immotile sperm are found at the center of the cone, where 10 min later they accomplish penetration. After 15 min the cone regresses and the second polar body is extruded. In eggs where the plug was experimentally displaced with respect to the dimple, spermatozoa contacted the sides of the dimple and simple protrusions formed but not cones. Spermatozoa do not elicit a normal FP in these regions but small step depolarizations which may be followed by a gradual rise to a positive plateau potential. Such eggs do not develop. In the protrusions, sperm may be only partially incorporated and the unpenetrated portion appears to degenerate. We conclude that at least two regions exist in the dimple: D1, where the FP is triggered, cones are formed, sperm penetration is fully accomplished and development is initiated; and D2 + D3 where the electrical response is not a normal FP, cones do not form, total sperm penetration does not occur, and development is not initiated.