How does hyaluronidase help sperm move through cells around a human egg?

During the process of fertilization, hyaluronidase facilitates the movement of sperm through the outer layers of the egg by breaking down the chemical bonds that hold these cells together.12

Specifically, the egg is surrounded by an outer envelope of cells known as the corona radiata. These cells are bound together by a substance called hyaluronic acid. As the sperm travels through the female genital tract and undergoes capacitation, it releases hyaluronidase—an enzyme often contained within the sperm's acrosome. This enzyme digests the hyaluronic acid, causing the dispersal of the corona radiata cells and clearing a path for the sperm to reach the inner, gelatinous layer of the egg, known as the zona pellucida.12