The solubility properties of the murine zona pellucida surrounding unfertilized eggs and 2-cell embryos have been investigated. Unfertilized zonae pellucidae were consistently more readily dissolved than those from 2-cell embryos in 2-mercaptoethanol, sodium periodate, and acidic solutions. No differences were observed when the solubility properties of zonae from 2-cell embryos fertilized in vivo were compared with those fertilized in vitro. The oviduct, therefore, does not appear to contribute to zonae solubility changes. Procedures are now available which will allow an assessment of the physiological importance of alterations in solubility properties of the zona pellucida at fertilization.
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Inoue et al. (1974) studied this question.
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