Hyaluronidase in the Fertilization of Mammalian Ova

Crude or highly purified preparations known to be very rich in hyaluronidase, such as extracts from rattlesnake venom, leech tissues, and testicle, have a very pronounced effect in dispersing the follicular cells surrounding the ova of mice. It appears very probable that hyaluronidase itself, which plays such an important part in infection, is also responsible for this effect, an indispensable step in fertilization. Final conclusions cannot be reached until the enzyme is obtained in pure state.