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Science 9 August 1968:
Vol. 161. no. 3841, pp. 585 - 586
DOI: 10.1126/science.161.3841.585
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Articles

Zona Pellucida Dissolution Enzymes of the Rabbit Sperm Head

Richard Stambaugh 1 and Jean Buckley 1

1 Division of Reproductive Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19104

Enzymes which dissolve the zona pellucida have been extracted from the rabbit sperm head and characterized as having the enzymic properties of hyaluronidase and trypsin. Their combined actions produce a rapid and complete dissolution of the zona pellucida, but the vitellus and its membrane are unaffected by prolonged exposure to this enzyme complex. Inhibition of the proteolytic component with lima bean or soybean inhibitors of trypsin prevents dissolution of the zona pellucida by the extract.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Amino Acid Content of Rabbit Acrosomal Proteinase and Its Similarity to Human Trypsin.
R. Stambaugh and M. Smith (1974)
Science 186, 745-746
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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)