Fetuin: a tool to study the block to polyspermy

Abstract

The effect of fetuin, an a1-glycoprotein that has protease inhibitor activity, on the biock to potyspermy was determined. Cumulus-oocyte complexes from eCG primed mice were matured in vitro in the presence of 0, 0.01, 0.1, l and 10mg/ml of fetuin in modifica TCM 199. Both in vivo and in vitro matured oocytes were fertilized in the presence of fetuin and incubated for 6 and 24h. Fetuin present in a concentration of 1 mg/ml in the ferlilization but not in the maturation medium was able to induce polyspermy in 52.4% of the eggs. There was a positive relationship between concentration of fetuin in the fertilization medium and the proportion of polyspermic eggs (p<0.05). A significant interaclion between 0.1 and l mg/ml of fetuin during maturation and fertilization was observed (p<0.05). The results of these experiments demonstrate the inhibition of the block to polyspermy using a protease inhibitor during the fertilization.