Cold Shock Compromises the Electrically Mediated Block to Polyspermy in Lytechinus variegatus Eggs

Key Points

• To determine how cold shock affects the electrical responses of Lytechinus variegatus eggs during fertilization.
• Conducted electrophysiological recordings on sea urchin eggs exposed to low temperatures before fertilization.
• Assessed changes in action potential and membrane potential in response to cold shock.
• Monitored sperm entry to evaluate polyspermy rates under different temperature conditions.
• Cold shock caused a partial disruption of the action potential in the eggs.
• There was a subthreshold depolarization of the membrane potential observed during fertilization.
• The disrupted electrical response allowed multiple sperm to enter the egg, increasing polyspermy rates.