Basic science issues in assisted reproduction: gamete interaction

摘要

Fertilization is the process that culminates in the union of one sperm nucleus with the egg nucleus within the activated egg cytoplasm.This is a complex process of molecular events involving matured haploid male and female gametes, their mutual recognition and fusion.Fertilization starts with: sperm activation; incorporation of the sperm into the egg cytoplasm, which includes binding and fusion of the plasma membranes; egg activation; formation of the sperm and egg nuclei; migrations of the pronuclei that should lead to genomic union; and, finally, initiation of the first division and development.