Existence of Three Mechanisms for Blocking Polyspermy in Oocytes of the Mussel Mytilus edulis.

We found the existence of a three-step mechanism to block polyspermy in the oocyte of the mussel Mytilus edulis. When the oocytes were inseminated within 30 min after spawning, they underwent monospermic fertilization over a wide range of sperm-oocyte ratios up to 5 x 103. A transient depolarization of the oocyte plasma membrane (fertilization potential) was observed immediately after insemination. Low-sodium seawater induced polyspermy and decreased the amplitude of the fertilization potential, suggesting the existence of a fast block to polyspermy that is dependent on depolarization of the plasma membrane. When the fertilized oocytes were inseminated again at a sperm-oocyte ratio that is great enough to give a high rate of polyspermy in initial insemination, many sperm could not undergo the acrosomal reaction and thus could not penetrate fertilized oocytes. The remaining sperm underwent an acrosomal reaction and the acrosomal process protruded through the vitelline coat, but it did not fuse with the oocyte plasma membrane. These findings suggest the existence of two strategies constituting a late polyspermy block: suppression of acrosomal reaction and block of contact or fusion between the plasma membranes of sperm and oocyte.