Histology of the Male Reproductive System 6 Flashcards
Describe the events and function of the acrosome reaction at fertilization and the ovum cortical reaction.
1
Q
Describe the acrosome reaction that occurs at fertilization.
A
- Sperm become hypermotile in the uterine tubes
- Binding to the zona pellucida, the final result of cpacitation, triggers this reaction
- release of hyaluronidase and proteases form the sperm head acrosome allows the sperm to penetrate the zona pellucid in order to fuse with the oocyte cell membrane
2
Q
After fertilization with the initial sperm, how are other sperm kept from fertilizing an egg?
A
- Fast block: depolarization of the occyte cell membrane
- Slow block: molecular cross-linking of the zona pellucida from the ovum cortical reaction, the release of cortical granules from the oocyte