Polyspermy prevention in marine invertebrates

In marine invertebrates, as in most other organisms, normal development requires that only one sperm nucleus joins with the egg nucleus at fertilization. The principal mechanisms employed are (1) prevention of sperm-egg plasma membrane fusion and (2) modifications of the egg extracellular coat to prevent sperm binding and/or penetration. In a third strategy, fertilization is polyspermic, but only one sperm nucleus fuses with the egg nucleus. Other factors such as gamete density during spawning, chemotaxis, and localized sites for sperm entry may also affect the numbers of sperm reaching the egg. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss. Inc.