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Science 16 February 1973:
Vol. 179. no. 4074, pp. 685 - 688
DOI: 10.1126/science.179.4074.685
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Articles

Sea Urchin Sperm-Egg Interactions Studied with the Scanning Electron Microscope

Mia J. Tegner 1 and David Epel 1

1 Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California 92037

Scanning electron microscopy of the outer surface of sea urchin eggs sampled at intervals during the first 3 minutes after insemination reveals the detailed structural changes of the vitelline layer during its transformation into the fertilization membrane. A sperm attachment-detachment sequence is described for the large number of sperm which transitorily bind every egg during fertilization.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Polyspermy block of Spisula eggs is prevented by cytochalasin B.
C. Ziomek and D Epel (1975)
Science 189, 139-141
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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)