We describe a novel experimental system in mice for the study of ovarian autoimmune disease, a condition encountered in women with premature ovarian failure. The ovarian autoimmune disease is induced in B6AF1 mice by a 15-amino acid peptide (Cys-Ser-Asn-Ser-Ser-Ser-Ser-Gln-Phe-Gln-Ile-His-Gly-Pro-Arg) from mouse ZP3, the sperm-binding component of the zona pellucida that surrounds growing and m...

Three glycoproteins (ZP1, ZP2, and ZP3) are synthesized in growing mouse oocytes and secreted to form an extracellular zona pellucida that mediates sperm binding and fertilization. Each has a signal peptide to direct it into a secretory pathway, a "zona" domain implicated in matrix polymerization and a transmembrane domain from which the ectodomain must be released. Using confocal microscopy an...

The mammalian egg must be fertilized by only one sperm to prevent polyploidy. In most mammals studied to date, the primary block to polyspermy occurs at the zona pellucida, the mammalian egg coat, after exocytosis of the contents of the cortical granules into the perivitelline space. The exudate acts on the zona, causing it to lose its ability to bind sperm and to be penetrated by sperm previou...

Three sulfated glycoproteins (ZP-1, ZP-2, and ZP-3) make up the zona pellucida, an extracellular glycocalyx that surrounds mouse oocytes. We have produced five monoclonal antibodies specific to the zona. All five immunoprecipitated ZP-2, and in addition, two of the antibodies immunoprecipitated ZP-3. This suggests the presence of either a common antigenic site or one made up in part by each of ...

OBJECTIVES To examine the effect of free radicals from peroxidized oil and the role of albumin on the passage of radicals. DESIGN Prospective study. SETTING Clinical IVF laboratory and university department. PATIENT(S) Blood samples were donated by laboratory staff. INTERVENTION(S) Examination of the effects of mineral oil samples with various peroxide value (POV) on culture of erythroc...

In most mammals that have been studied, the first spermatozoon which penetrates an egg stimulates the egg to undergo a reaction—the 'zona reaction'—which bars further spermatozoa from penetrating through the zona pellucida (Braden, Austin & David, 1954). The sequel to the zona reaction may be classified into two categories, according to species: species in which spermatozoa are entirely prevent...

Mouse blastocysts were cultured for 24 h in the presence of various substances at concentrations as high as possible, consistent with blastocyst survival. Lysis of the zona pellucida was produced by trypsin and pronase, but not by hyaluronidase, collagenase, /?-glucuronidase, ribonuclease, neuraminidase or oestrogen. This suggests that the zona lysin secreted by the mouse uterus at the time of ...

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Sperm receptors are located in the mammalian egg extracellular coat, or zona pellucida. Mouse and hamster sperm receptor glycoproteins, mZP3 (83 x 10(3) M(r)) and hZP3 (56 x 10(3) M(r)), respectively, have very similar polypeptides (44 x 10(3) M(r); 81% identical) that are glycosylated to different extents. Purified mZP3 and hZP3 can bind to mouse sperm, prevent them from binding to eggs and in...

The present study was conducted to assess the fertilizing potential of frozen-thawed spermatozoa, which were cryopreserved after separation on a Percoll gradient, or washed out of seminal plasma. For this purpose, binding to the zona pellucida and other characteristics of the treated sperm cells were compared with those of cryopreserved spermatozoa from the same original sample which were not m...