Timing of sperm entry?

Model Organism: Worms Scientific Discussion
1

Hi All,

Does anybody know when sperm entry into the proximal oocyte tends to happen relative to the oocyte’s passage through the spermatheca?

I would like to try and judge when sperm entry is occuring, without using a sperm marker.

Thanks

Jake

2

Hi,

from C. elegans II (Tim Schedl, Chapter 10):

‘Ovulation, the exit of the most proximal oocyte from the gonad arm into the spermatheca, requires contraction of the eight proximal sheath cells (which are myoepithelial) and dilation of the distal spermatheca (oviduct valve). The rate of sheath contractions increases prior to NEBD and peaks at ovulation when the sheath appears to contract tonically as it pulls the dilating distal spermatheca over the oocyte. As the distal spermatheca closes, cytoplasmic streaming is visible in the oocyte, possibly indicating fertilization.’

which presumably stems from this earlier wbg piece by the very same:

http://www.wormbook.org/wli/wbg14.1p68/

Steve

3

Thanks. That was very useful.

Jake