Zona pellucida

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Introduction

Oocyte and developing zona pellucida in the ovary
Oocyte and developing zona pellucida in the ovary
Human blastocyst "hatching" from the zona pellucida
Human blastocyst "hatching" from the zona pellucida (week 1 Carnegie stage 3)


(Latin, zona pellucida = transparent zone) The zona pellucida (ZP) is a specialized extracellular matrix surrounding the developing oocyte (egg, ovum) within each follicle within the ovary. This thick matrix is thought to be formed by secretions from the oocyte and the follicle granulosa cells and in human oocytes consists of four types of zona pellucida glycoproteins ZP1, ZP2, ZP3 and ZP4 which have different roles in fertilization. Note that mice also have 4 ZP genes, but multiple stop and missense codons in ZP4 means that only three are produced. Polymers of ZP2 and ZP3 organized into extended filaments that are cross-linked by ZP1 homodimers.


Note that depending upon species and type of study, the zona pellucida can also be called the: oolemma, egg coat or vitelline membrane.


The zona pellucid has many different roles including in oocyte development, protection during growth and transport, fertilization, spermatozoa binding, preventing polyspermy, blastocyst development, and preventing premature implantation (ectopic pregnancy).

Human oocyte 11.jpg Early zygote.jpg
Human oocyte contained inside zona pellucida.[1] Early zygote inside zona pellucida

In human development, during the first week of development following fertilization the zona pellucida remains surrounding the blastocyst from which it "hatches" to commence implantation.


Fertilization Links: fertilization | oocyte | spermatozoa | meiosis | | ovary | testis | menstrual cycle | zona pellucida | zygote | granulosa cell Lecture - Fertilization | 2016 Lecture | mitosis | Lecture - Week 1 and 2 | hydatidiform mole | Assisted Reproductive Technology | | morula | blastocyst | Lecture - Genital Development | Category:Fertilization
Historic Embryology - Fertilization 
1910 Fertilization | 1919 Human Ovum | 1921 The Ovum | 1927 First polar body | 1929 Oocyte Size | 1943 Fertilization | 1944 In vitro fertilization | 1948 In vitro fertilization


Some Recent Findings

Human zygote inside the zone pellucida
Mouse germinal vesicle
Mouse germinal vesicle[2]
  • ZP1 mutations are associated with empty follicle syndrome[3] "Empty follicle syndrome (EFS) is the complete failure to retrieve oocytes after ovarian stimulation. Although LHCGR and ZP3 were identified as causative genes, it is still unclear what happens to these patients' oocytes, and the pathogenesis of EFS remains obscure. Here, we identified six novel ZP1 mutations associated with EFS and female infertility that was inherited recessively in five unrelated families. Studies in CHO-K1 cells showed that these mutations resulted in either degradation or truncation of ZP1 protein. Immunohistochemistry using ovarian serial sections demonstrated that all preantral follicles had normal architecture, but with a thin ZP, lacking ZP1, surrounding the growing oocytes. The antral follicles were also defective in normal cumulus-oocyte complex organisation, leading us to speculate that the lack of ZP1 might lead to oocyte degeneration or increased fragility of the oocyte during follicular puncture, ultimately resulting in EFS. To our knowledge, this is the first study that presents morphological evidence showing normal preantral folliculogenesis with abnormal ZP assembly in EFS patients."
  • Structure of Zona Pellucida Module Proteins[4] "The egg coat, an extracellular matrix made up of glycoprotein filaments, plays a key role in animal fertilization by acting as a gatekeeper for sperm. Egg coat components polymerize using a common zona pellucida (ZP) "domain" module that consists of two related immunoglobulin-like domains, called ZP-N and ZP-C. The ZP module has also been recognized in a large number of other secreted proteins with different biological functions, whose mutations are linked to severe human diseases. During the last decade, tremendous progress has been made toward understanding the atomic architecture of the ZP module and the structural basis of its polymerization. Moreover, sperm-binding regions at the N-terminus of mollusk and mammalian egg coat subunits were found to consist of domain repeats that also adopt a ZP-N fold. This discovery revealed an unexpected link between invertebrate and vertebrate fertilization and led to the first structure of an egg coat-sperm protein recognition complex. In this review we summarize these exciting findings, discuss their functional implications, and outline future challenges that must be addressed in order to develop a comprehensive view of this family of biomedically important extracellular molecules."
  • Perivitelline threads in cleavage-stage human embryos: observations using time-lapse imaging[5] "Time-lapse imaging of the human preimplantation embryo in vitro has revealed a transient phenomenon involving the appearance of perivitelline threads, commonly observed at the two-cell stage. These threads span the perivitelline space, arising at the specific area where the cytoplasmic membrane contacts the zona pellucida, before any perivitelline space is formed. The threads persist as the cytoplasmic membrane retracts from the zona pellucida to form the first cleavage furrow. In this observational report, these structures and their incidence are described. ...Presence or absence of threads did not affect embryo development. This descriptive study is limited; further characterization of these structures is needed to elucidate their potential role in early human embryo development."
More recent papers  
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Search term: Zona pellucida Development | Zona pellucida

Older papers  
These papers originally appeared in the Some Recent Findings table, but as that list grew in length have now been shuffled down to this collapsible table.

See also the Discussion Page for other references listed by year and References on this current page.

  • A single domain of the ZP2 zona pellucida protein mediates gamete recognition in mice and humans[6] "The extracellular zona pellucida surrounds ovulated eggs and mediates gamete recognition that is essential for mammalian fertilization. Zonae matrices contain three (mouse) or four (human) glycoproteins (ZP1-4), but which protein binds sperm remains controversial. ...These observations in transgenic mice document that the ZP2(51-149) sperm-binding domain is necessary for human and mouse gamete recognition and penetration through the zona pellucida."
  • Biosynthesis of hamster zona pellucida is restricted to the oocyte[6] "In the present work, the expression of ZP1, ZP2, ZP3 and ZP4 is carefully analyzed by in situ hybridization (ISH) in hamster ovaries. Our data suggest that the four hamster ZP genes are expressed in a coordinate and oocyte-specific manner during folliculogenesis. Furthermore, this expression is maximal during the first stages of the oocyte development and declines in oocytes from later development stages, particularly within large antral follicles."
  • Zona pellucida birefringence in in vivo and in vitro matured oocytes[7]
  • Zona pellucida glycoprotein-1 binds to spermatozoa and induces acrosomal exocytosis[8] "These studies revealed for the first time that in humans ZP1, in addition to ZP3 and ZP4, binds to capacitated spermatozoa and induces acrosomal exocytosis."

Three-dimensional Structure

Mouse zona pellucida[9]

Electron microscopic studies have shown a variety of appearances from a porous, net-like structure to a nearly smooth and compact structure.

An scanning electron microscopic review[10] of both human and mouse zona pellucida structures at ovulation show:

  • spongy ZP appearance well correlates with mature oocytes.
  • a delicate meshwork of thin interconnected filaments
  • a regular alternating pattern of wide and tight meshes.
  • wide meshes correspond to "pores" of the "spongy" ZP.
    • tight meshes correspond to the compact parts of the ZP surrounding the pores.


Human Zona Pellucida

An immunochemistry study[11] of human ZP proteins expression during folliculogenesis within the ovary primordial follicle identified the presence of ZP1 and ZP3 in most follicles (93% and 95%, respectively), with ZP2 only in 32% of these follicles. The ZP proteins were also detected in the cytoplasm of cuboidal granulosa cells. This localization suggested to the authors that these proteins had been present since oogenesis.

Human embryo day 5 label.gif

Mouse Zona Pellucida

Mouse zona pellucida

Mouse zona pellucida development.[9]


In the mouse ovarian oocytes, and not granulosa cells, are the only source for mouse ZP glycoproteins.<[12]

  • Oocyte and zona pellucida

    Oocyte and zona pellucida

  • Oocyte and granulosa cells

    Oocyte and granulosa cells

  • Oocyte and granulosa cells

    Oocyte and granulosa cells

  • Oocyte and granulosa cells

    Oocyte and granulosa cells

Zona Pellucida Glycoprotein Features

Human oocyte contained inside zona pellucida
Human oocyte contained inside zona pellucida.[1]
  1. A "ZP domain", which is a signature domain comprised of approximately 260 amino acid (aa) residues.
  2. An N-terminal hydrophobic signal peptide sequence.
  3. A potential N- and O-linked glycosylation sites.
  4. A C-terminal hydrophobic transmembrane-like domain (TMD)
  5. A potential consensus proprotein convertase (furin) cleavage site (CFCS) upstream of transmembrane-like domain (TMD).

Zona Pellucida glycoprotein 1

(ZP1) A 638 amino acid glycoprotein located in the zona pellucida, synthesized by and surrounding the oocyte.

Links: OMIM - ZP1

Zona Pellucida glycoprotein 2

Model of gamete recognition zona pellucida
Model of gamete recognition zona pellucida[13]

(ZP2) A 745 amino acid glycoprotein located in the zona pellucida, synthesized by and surrounding the oocyte. The protein acts as a secondary sperm receptor that binds sperm only after the induction of the sperm acrosome reaction. Before fertilization ZP2 binds spermatozoa. After fertilization ZP2 is proteolytically cleaved as an initial block to polyspermy.

Links: OMIM - ZP2

Zona Pellucida glycoprotein 3

Zona Pellucida Glycoprotein 3 (ZP3) A 424 amino acid glycoprotein located in the zona pellucida, synthesized by and surrounding the oocyte required for initial zona matrix formation and during fertilization for species-specific sperm binding. Now thought to exist in 2 isoforms ZP3A and ZP3B (a second polymorphic allele).


A study using the mouse oocyte,[14] has shown that ZP3 is also required for germinal vesicle breakdown in oocyte meiosis. ZP3 was initially expressed in the nucleus during prophase, and then translocates to the zona pellucida. Several potential ZP3-interacting proteins for the germinal vesicle effect were identified in this study: Protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor type K (Ptprk), Aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein-like 1 (Aipl1), and Diaphanous related formin 2 (Diaph2).


Links: OMIM - ZP3

Zona Pellucida glycoprotein 4

(ZP4) A 540 amino acid glycoprotein located in the zona pellucida, synthesized by and surrounding the oocyte required for initial zona matrix formation and along with ZP3 during fertilization for inducing the acrosome reaction and inhibited the binding of spermatozoa to zona pellucida in a time- and dose-dependent reaction. Associated with several mammalian species (human, rat, hamster and rabbit) but not all mammalian species.

A rabbit ZP4 knockout study showed an important ZP structural role for this protein.[15] Earlier ovulation, fertilization and development to blastocyst were normal, though embryos covered by a ZP4-devoided zona, had a thinner, more permeable, and disorganized and fenestrated structure.


Links: OMIM - ZP4

Zona Pellucida Binding Protein

(ZPBP) Not a zona pellucida protein, but a spermatozoa protein found located on the acrosome surface and one of several proteins that participate in secondary binding between acrosome-reacted sperm and the zona pellucida.

Links: OMIM - ZPBP

Zona Pellucida Birefringence

(ZPB) Optical property of the zona pellucida using polarization imaging when viewed microscopically. This property has been used to qualitatively predict the developmental potential of a in vitro matured metaphase-II (MII) oocytes.

High birefringence, compared to low, has been associated with oocytes contributing to conception cycles when compared with those of nonconception cycles and higher implantation, pregnancy, and live birth rates from transferred oocytes.[16][7] This work follows on from the earlier discovery of an increased birefringence in the meiotic spindle an early indicator of oocyte activation[17]

Oocyte zona birefringence intensity is associated with embryonic implantation potential in ICSI cycles[16]

"Using zona birefringence as the only selection criterion, two fertilized oocytes, preferably derived from high birefringence (HZB) oocytes, were selected for further culture and transfer. The required criteria were met by 135 ICSI cycles (124 patients; 34.9 ± 4.1 years of age). Embryos for transfer were used in 20 cycles derived from HZB/HZB oocytes, in 50 cycles from HZB/LZB oocytes and in 65 from LZB/LZB oocytes. The corresponding implantation (P < 0.025), pregnancy (P < 0.005) and live birth (P < 0.025) rates were significantly different between HZB/HZB and HZB/LZB versus LZB/LZB group. Embryo development was superior in embryos derived from HZB oocytes."

Zona pellucida birefringence in in vivo and in vitro matured oocytes[7]

The percentage of high birefringence oocytes was higher in immature than in mature oocytes (40.1 vs. 23.6%). Among immature oocytes, an increased percentage of HB in prophase-I stage oocytes compared to metaphase I stage oocytes was also observed (50.7 vs. 25.0%). However, the percentage of HB oocytes did not change when comparing oocytes before and after in vitro maturation for both prophase I and metaphase I oocytes. No influence of ZPB was observed on the spontaneous in vitro maturation potential. Exclusively for metaphase II retrieved oocytes, a positive influence of ZPB on fertilization (odds ratio [OR], 1.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27-2.49) and embryo quality (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.04-4.99) was noted.


Birefringence - Defined as the double refraction of light in a transparent, molecularly ordered material, which is manifested by the existence of orientation-dependent differences in refractive index.


Links: Olympus - Optical Birefringence

Abnormalities

Empty Follicle Syndrome

Empty Follicle Syndrome (EFS) is clinically defined as the failure to aspirate oocytes from mature ovarian follicles during in vitro fertilization. At least one genetic cause has been identified, a missense mutation in zona pellucida protein 3 (ZP3).[18]

Zona Pellucida Antibodies

The zona pellucida has been shown to contain tissue-specific and species-specific antigens that can generate antibodies that inhibit sperm attachment. Anti-zona pellucida antibodies have been shown to occur in human serum though the cause of their generation is largely unknown.[19] It has been suggested that this may be a contributing factor to infertility[20] and premature ovarian failure.[21]


Note the generation of zona pellucida antibodies from specific antigens has also been used in controlling animal fertility.[22] This has also been suggested as a possible target in generating a contraceptive vaccine for controlling human fertility.[22]


Terms

  • acrosome reaction - The chemical change within the spermatozoa following binding to the zona pellucida, that leads to the release of acrosomal enzymatic contents. These enzymes degrade the zona pellucida and allow a spermatozoa to penetrate an oocyte.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Shi W, Xu B, Wu LM, Jin RT, Luan HB, Luo LH, Zhu Q, Johansson L, Liu YS & Tong XH. (2014). Oocytes with a dark zona pellucida demonstrate lower fertilization, implantation and clinical pregnancy rates in IVF/ICSI cycles. PLoS ONE , 9, e89409. PMID: 24586757 DOI.
  2. ↑ Zhou HX, Ma YZ, Liu YL, Chen Y, Zhou CJ, Wu SN, Shen JP & Liang CG. (2014). Assessment of mouse germinal vesicle stage oocyte quality by evaluating the cumulus layer, zona pellucida, and perivitelline space. PLoS ONE , 9, e105812. PMID: 25144310 DOI.
  3. ↑ Dai C, Chen Y, Hu L, Du J, Gong F, Dai J, Zhang S, Wang M, Chen J, Guo J, Zheng W, Lu C, Wu Y, Lu G & Lin G. (2019). ZP1 mutations are associated with empty follicle syndrome: evidence for the existence of an intact oocyte and a zona pellucida in follicles up to the early antral stage. A case report. Hum. Reprod. , 34, 2201-2207. PMID: 31734689 DOI.
  4. ↑ Bokhove M & Jovine L. (2018). Structure of Zona Pellucida Module Proteins. Curr. Top. Dev. Biol. , 130, 413-442. PMID: 29853186 DOI.
  5. ↑ Kellam L, Pastorelli LM, Bastida AM, Senkbeil A, Montgomery S, Fishel S & Campbell A. (2017). Perivitelline threads in cleavage-stage human embryos: observations using time-lapse imaging. Reprod. Biomed. Online , 35, 646-656. PMID: 29074360 DOI.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Izquierdo-Rico MJ, Gimeno L, Jiménez-Cervantes C, Ballesta J & Avilés M. (2011). Biosynthesis of hamster zona pellucida is restricted to the oocyte. Theriogenology , 75, 463-72. PMID: 21074836 DOI.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 de Almeida Ferreira Braga DP, de Cássia Savio Figueira R, Queiroz P, Madaschi C, Iaconelli A & Borges E. (2010). Zona pellucida birefringence in in vivo and in vitro matured oocytes. Fertil. Steril. , 94, 2050-3. PMID: 20079896 DOI.
  8. ↑ Ganguly A, Bukovsky A, Sharma RK, Bansal P, Bhandari B & Gupta SK. (2010). In humans, zona pellucida glycoprotein-1 binds to spermatozoa and induces acrosomal exocytosis. Hum. Reprod. , 25, 1643-56. PMID: 20504872 DOI.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Wassarman PM. (2008). Zona pellucida glycoproteins. J. Biol. Chem. , 283, 24285-9. PMID: 18539589 DOI.
  10. ↑ Familiari G, Relucenti M, Heyn R, Micara G & Correr S. (2006). Three-dimensional structure of the zona pellucida at ovulation. Microsc. Res. Tech. , 69, 415-26. PMID: 16703610 DOI.
  11. ↑ Gook DA, Edgar DH, Borg J & Martic M. (2008). Detection of zona pellucida proteins during human folliculogenesis. Hum. Reprod. , 23, 394-402. PMID: 18033806 DOI.
  12. ↑ El-Mestrah M, Castle PE, Borossa G & Kan FW. (2002). Subcellular distribution of ZP1, ZP2, and ZP3 glycoproteins during folliculogenesis and demonstration of their topographical disposition within the zona matrix of mouse ovarian oocytes. Biol. Reprod. , 66, 866-76. PMID: 11906903
  13. ↑ Avella MA, Baibakov B & Dean J. (2014). A single domain of the ZP2 zona pellucida protein mediates gamete recognition in mice and humans. J. Cell Biol. , 205, 801-9. PMID: 24934154 DOI.
  14. ↑ Gao LL, Zhou CX, Zhang XL, Liu P, Jin Z, Zhu GY, Ma Y, Li J, Yang ZX & Zhang D. (2017). ZP3 is Required for Germinal Vesicle Breakdown in Mouse Oocyte Meiosis. Sci Rep , 7, 41272. PMID: 28145526 DOI.
  15. ↑ Lamas-Toranzo I, Fonseca Balvís N, Querejeta-Fernández A, Izquierdo-Rico MJ, González-Brusi L, Lorenzo PL, García-Rebollar P, Avilés M & Bermejo-Álvarez P. (2019). ZP4 confers structural properties to the zona pellucida essential for embryo development. Elife , 8, . PMID: 31635692 DOI.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Montag M, Schimming T, Köster M, Zhou C, Dorn C, Rösing B, van der Ven H & Ven der Ven K. (2008). Oocyte zona birefringence intensity is associated with embryonic implantation potential in ICSI cycles. Reprod. Biomed. Online , 16, 239-44. PMID: 18284880
  17. ↑ Liu L, Trimarchi JR, Oldenbourg R & Keefe DL. (2000). Increased birefringence in the meiotic spindle provides a new marker for the onset of activation in living oocytes. Biol. Reprod. , 63, 251-8. PMID: 10859266
  18. ↑ Chen T, Bian Y, Liu X, Zhao S, Wu K, Yan L, Li M, Yang Z, Liu H, Zhao H & Chen ZJ. (2017). A Recurrent Missense Mutation in ZP3 Causes Empty Follicle Syndrome and Female Infertility. Am. J. Hum. Genet. , 101, 459-465. PMID: 28886344 DOI.
  19. ↑ Caudle MR & Shivers CA. (1989). Current status of anti-zona pellucida antibodies. Am. J. Reprod. Immunol. , 21, 57-60. PMID: 2697213
  20. ↑ Koyama K, Hasegawa A, Mochida N & Calongos G. (2005). Follicular dysfunction induced by autoimmunity to zona pellucida. Reprod Biol , 5, 269-78. PMID: 16372044
  21. ↑ Takamizawa S, Shibahara H, Shibayama T & Suzuki M. (2007). Detection of antizona pellucida antibodies in the sera from premature ovarian failure patients by a highly specific test. Fertil. Steril. , 88, 925-32. PMID: 17349637 DOI.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Naz RK, Gupta SK, Gupta JC, Vyas HK & Talwar AG. (2005). Recent advances in contraceptive vaccine development: a mini-review. Hum. Reprod. , 20, 3271-83. PMID: 16113040 DOI.


Reviews

Gupta SK. (2018). The Human Egg's Zona Pellucida. Curr. Top. Dev. Biol. , 130, 379-411. PMID: 29853184 DOI.

Nishio S, Okumura H & Matsuda T. (2018). Egg-Coat and Zona Pellucida Proteins of Chicken as a Typical Species of Aves. Curr. Top. Dev. Biol. , 130, 307-329. PMID: 29853181 DOI.

Hasegawa A, Tanaka H & Shibahara H. (2014). Infertility and Immunocontraception based on zona pellucida. Reprod. Med. Biol. , 13, 1-9. PMID: 29699147 DOI.

Gupta SK. (2015). Role of zona pellucida glycoproteins during fertilization in humans. J. Reprod. Immunol. , 108, 90-7. PMID: 25445843 DOI.

Wassarman PM. (2008). Zona pellucida glycoproteins. J. Biol. Chem. , 283, 24285-9. PMID: 18539589 DOI.

Articles

Hirohashi N & Yanagimachi R. (2018). Sperm acrosome reaction: Its site and role in fertilization. Biol. Reprod. , , . PMID: 29462288 DOI.

Liu W, Bai D, Chen J & Gao S. (2017). Additive-effect pattern of both ZP2 and ZP3 in human and mouse. Hum. Genet. , 136, 1493-1495. PMID: 29094202 DOI.

Liu W, Li K, Bai D, Yin J, Tang Y, Chi F, Zhang L, Wang Y, Pan J, Liang S, Guo Y, Ruan J, Kou X, Zhao Y, Wang H, Chen J, Teng X & Gao S. (2017). Dosage effects of ZP2 and ZP3 heterozygous mutations cause human infertility. Hum. Genet. , 136, 975-985. PMID: 28646452 DOI.

Chen T, Bian Y, Liu X, Zhao S, Wu K, Yan L, Li M, Yang Z, Liu H, Zhao H & Chen ZJ. (2017). A Recurrent Missense Mutation in ZP3 Causes Empty Follicle Syndrome and Female Infertility. Am. J. Hum. Genet. , 101, 459-465. PMID: 28886344 DOI.

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Additional Images

  • Mouse oocyte and zona pellucida - light and TEM

    Mouse oocyte and zona pellucida - light and TEM

  • Mouse oocyte and zona pellucida TEM

    Mouse oocyte and zona pellucida TEM

  • Cat oocyte zona pellucida SEM

    Cat oocyte zona pellucida SEM

  • Cat oocyte zona pellucida SEM

    Cat oocyte zona pellucida SEM

  • Cat oocyte zona pellucida spermatozoa bound SEM

    Cat oocyte zona pellucida spermatozoa bound SEM

  • Hamster oocyte zona pellucida SEM

    Hamster oocyte zona pellucida SEM

  • Pig ZPC deposition in oocyte-cumulus complexes

    Pig ZPC deposition in oocyte-cumulus complexes

  • Historic - From a section of the ovary of a 12-year old girl

    Historic - From a section of the ovary of a 12-year old girl

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Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2023, December 5) Embryology Zona pellucida. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Zona_pellucida

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