The slow block to polyspermy in the sea urchin embryo consists of a physical barrier to further sperm penetration into the egg that results from cortical granule exocytosis Cortical granules have a lamellar (layered) appearance in transmission electron micrographs, and contain numerous protein and other components. Cortical granule exocytosis results in the formation of the fertilization envelope (often called the fertilization "membrane", even though the structure is not a true membrane). The fertilization envelope is formed by the lifting of the vitelline envelope away from the egg plasma membrane. The cortical granules contain enzymes that aid in the detachment of the vitelline envelope, as well as other components that aid the osmotic swelling of the fertilization envelope away from the egg. Cortical granules also contain extracellular matrix proteins that are deposited on the egg surface, including the protein hyalin, which is the major component of the hyaline layer. The animation shown here simulates the fusion of the cortical granule membrane with the egg plasma membrane, resulting in the dumping of the cortical granule's contents to the exterior of the fertilized egg (courtesy of Dr. David Epel).


The movies below use fluorescence microscopy to visualize individual cortical granule fusion events (courtesy of Dr. Mark Terasaki, Univ. of Connecticut). The image shows one frame from such a movie.

Cortical granule release visualized using lipophilic dye (courtesy Mark Terasaki, Univ. of Connecticut)

As you will see if you play the movie on the right, fusions sweep over the egg surface, beginning with the site of sperm entry, which is evident as the site where calcium elevation occurs first.

Cortical granule release visualized using lipophilic dye (0.7 Mb)
Cortical granule release at high magnification (0.5 Mb)
Calcium elevation and cortical granule release (0.6 Mb)