Influence of genetic factors on the fertilization of mouse ova in vitro.

In-vitro fertilization was studied in F1 hybrids, 4 inbred and outbred strains of mice. Experiments were performed with intact ova (Series I) and denuded ova (Series II). In Series I the highest percentages of fertilization were obtained with gametes of F1 hybrids (86.7%) and of the CBA strain (87.5%). The KP, KE, and particularly the C57 strains, which in vivo give less than 100% fertilization, also gave low indices in vitro (42.9, 26.0 and 8.6% respectively). Testing gametes of these inbred strains with F1 gametes showed that spermatozoa and ova are responsible for the low percentages of fertilization. The rate of fertilization was mainly dependent on the genotype of the spermatozoon. In Series II, high percentages of fertilization (97-100%) were regularly obtained in all groups, indicating that differences between strains pertained mainly to binding of spermatozoa with the zona pellucida. The incidence of polyspermy, which did not exceed 5% in Series I and reached 58% in Series II, was dependent on the genotype of both gametes.