Normal penetration of rabbit spermatozoa through a trypsin- and acrosin-resistant zona pellucida.

Exposure of rabbit ova to wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) at a concentration of 50 microgram/ml for 30-45 min rendered the zona pellucida at least 10 times more resistant to digestion by 1 mg trypsin/ml, and also more resistant to acrosin. Nevertheless, the zonas of WGA-treated eggs were penetrated by spermatozoa as readily as those of untreated eggs in the same oviduct. These results suggest that penetration of spermatozoa through the zona pellucida may not require the agency of a trypsin-like enzyme acting as a primary zona lysin. The validity of the general belief that a lysin in necessary for zona penetration is considered briefly in relation to the mode of penetration and structural organization of the mammalian sperm head.