Research Output | Dar Al-hikmah Library | IIUM Only
The mammalian zona pellucida is an extracellular matrix that surrounds the oocytes and embryos up until the stage of hatching of the blastocyst. It functions to facilitate sperm-oocyte binding by stimulating acrosome reaction and to protect the embryo through its journey in the fallopian tube. Prevention of polyspermy is also attributed to the hard