Egg Fertility in Domestic Fowl Callus gallus domesticus as a Function of the Yolk Surface Area

摘要

The increase of egg mass and reliable decrease of egg fertility were observed when the mass surface area of yolk (egg) increased. The results obtained suggest that, in addition to the number of viable spermatozoa penetrating across the perivitelline membrane within 15-20 min after ovulation, the probability of fertilization depends on the area of egg surface, which approximately corresponds to the area of periviteliinc membrane. Apparently, the ratio of receptors' numbers and spermatozoa, which contact with them on the germ disc surface, to their number on the non-germ zone decreases with the increase of yolk size. The fertility depression associated with the increased area of periviteliinc membrane suggests that the egg yolk size is one of the factors of fertility of the female gametes in terms of both egg content variability and aging.