Sperm-egg interactions observed by scanning electron microscopy.

Successful in vitro fertilization requires mature oocytes in which the first polar body has been extruded and capacitated sperm capable of penetrating the zona pellucida. In this study we made a time sequential observations on human sperm-egg interactions by SEM in two experimental systems. Human sperm-human zona pellucida interaction: Cytoplasmic processes of corona cell extend around sperm head. Spermatozoa took different angles in attaching or penetrating to the zona pellucida. The head of some spermatozoa bound to the zona were vesiculated, suggesting the progression of the acrosomal reaction. Initially, the anterior part of the sperm head penetrates from the pore of the zona pellucida. Human sperm-zona-free hamster egg interaction: Most spermatozoa lie flat on the vitellus surface covered with numerous microvilli, but a few are oriented perpendicular to the vitellus surface. Most bound sperm had lost their acrosomal caps, because a ridge exists at the leading edge of the equatorial segment. Initially most microvilli appeared to grasp and immobilize the anterior tip of the sperm head. But as gamete interaction proceeded, microvilli were overlying the postacrosomal region and were observed adjacent to the plasma membrane of the postacrosomal region. The postacrosomal region is first incorporated into the ooplasma, the anterior tip of sperm head being the last portion to be incorporated. The microvilli of the oolemmal surface where sperm penetrated did not show major changes in size or in appearance, and the so-called incorporation cone was not observed.