Capacitation of spermatozoa. False-colour scanning electron micrograph of a spermatozoon floating over the endometrium,the internal wall of the uterus. Thanks to their movements through the ciliated epithelium (light orange) spermatozoa undergo a process known as capacitation. During this phase,which lasts about seven hours,a glycoprotein coat and seminal plasma proteins are removed from the heads of spermatozoa. This enables a spermatozoon,when close to the egg,to release special enzymes which allows it to penetrate the surrounding membranes of the egg. Magnification: x5060 at 6x7cm size. x7140 at 4x5ins | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / PROFESSORS P.M. MOTTA & J. VAN BLERKOM |
Bildgröße: | 2465 px × 3345 px |
Modell-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Eigentums-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Restrictions: | - |