• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.173-181
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• 1996

The time-course process by which spermatozoa penetrates through the micropvle apparatus into the egg cytoplasm of rainbow trout, Oncorhvnchus mvkiss, was examined with transmission and scanning electron microscopy. In the unfertilized egg, the ess surface beneath the inner opening of the micropylar canal did not differ distinctly from the rest of the animal pole area. A spermatozoon attached to the micropvle opening 20 seconds after insemination. In the initial stases of penetration, the spermatozoon still within the micropvlar canal attached perpendicularly at its apical tip to the ess surface, then the sperm head was rapidly engulfed by the folded egg surface with its manly microvilli. A large fertilization cone with microvillus-free surface appeared on the esS surface sutra-rounding the penetrating spermatozoon. The head portion of the penetrating spermatozoon was completely wrapped by the ess surface with only the tail portion visible externally 30 seconds after insemination. The fertilization cone displayed the tail portion of the penetrating spermatozoon on the central portion of its surface 60 seconds after insemination. 150 seconds after insemination, breakdown of the cortical granules elevation were initiated at the animal pole, then completed at the vegetable pole area. The spermatozoon disappeared from the outer surface of the ess before the fertilization cone completely retracted 250 seconds after insemination. In result, the block to polvspermv to permit entry of a sin81e sperm is considered to be mechanical by the rnorpholoSical design of the micropvle and fertilization cone.