Abstract
The concentrations of Ca2+, Na+ and H+ in echinoderm oocytes and eggs were measured during maturation and activation using ion-selective microelectrodes. In both oocytes and eggs, from three species of starfish and two species of sea urchin, the resting level of cytosolic Ca2+ was about 10-7 M. We did not detect any change in Ca2+ concentration either during hormone-induced oocyte maturation (starfish) or during egg activation (starfish and sea urchin) induced by spermatozoa or chemical agents. During 1-methyl-adenine induced maturation of starfish oocytes the intracellular level of Na+ increased from 12–35 mM to 40–90 mM, while the pH changed from 6.6–6.8 to 7.0–7.2 Aged oocytes, with intact germinal vesicles, also had elevated levels of Na+ and pH.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baud C, Barish ME (1984) Changes in membrane hydrogen and sodium conductances during progesterone-induced maturation of ambystoma oocytes. Dev Biol 105:423–434
Busa WB, Nuccitelli R (1984) Metabolic regulation via intracellular pH. Am J Physiol 246:R409-R438
Busa WB, Nuccitelli R (1985) An elevated free cytosolic Ca2+ wave follows fertilization in eggs of the frog, Xenopus laevis. J Cell Biol 100:1325–1329
Cicirelli MF, Robinson KR, Smith LD (1983) Internal pH of Xenopus oocytes: a study of the mechanism and role of pH changes during meiotic maturation. Dev Biol 100:133–146
Dale B, Santella L (1985) Sperm-oocyte interaction in the sea urchin. J Cell Sci 74:153–167
Dale B, De Felice LJ, Taglietti V (1978) Membrane noise and conductance increase during single spermatozoon-egg interaction. Nature (Lond) 275:217–219
Dale B, de Santis A, Hoshi M (1979) Membrane response to 1-methyladenine requires the presence of the nucleus. Nature (Lond) 282:89–90
Eisen A, Reynolds GT (1984) Calcium transients during early development in single starfish (Asterias forbesi) oocytes. J Cell Biol 99:1878–1882
Eisen A, Kiehart DP, Wieland SJ, Reynolds GT (1984) Temporal sequence and spatial distribution of early events of fertilization in single sea urchin eggs. J Cell Biol 99: 1647–1654
Gorman ALF, Levy S, Nasi E, Tillotson D (1984) Intracellular calcium measured with calcium-sensitive microelectrodes and ARZENAZO III in voltage-damped Aplysia neurones. J Physiol 353:127–142
Johnson CH, Epel D (1982) Starfish oocyte maturation and fertilization intracellular pH is not involved in activation. Dev Biol 92:461–469
Johnson CH, Epel D, Paul M (1976) Intracellular pH and activation of sea urchin eggs after fertilization. Nature (Lond) 262:661–664
Kanatani H (1975) Maturation-inducing substances in asteroid and echinoid oocytes. Am Zool 15:493–505
Lee SC, Steinhardt RA (1981) pH changes associated with meiotic maturation in oocytes of Xenopus laevis. Dev Biol 85:358–369
Meijer L, Guerrier P (1984) Maturation and fertilization in starfish oocytes. Int Rev Cytol 86:129–196
Moreau M, Guerrier P, Doree M, Ashley CC (1978) 1-methyladenine induced release of intracellular calcium triggers meiosis in starfish oocytes. Nature (Lond) 272:251–253
Morrill GA (1965) Water and electrolyte changes in amphibian eggs at ovulation. Exp Cell Res 40:664–667
Payan P, Girard JP, Christen R, Sardet C (1981) Na+ movements and their oscillations during fertilization and the cell cycle in sea urchin eggs. Exp Cell Res 134: 339–344
Payan P, Girard JP, Ciapa B (1983) Mechanisms regulating intracellular pH in sea urchin eggs. Dev Biol 100:29–38
Peaucellier G, Doree M (1981) Acid release at activation and fertilization of starfish oocytes. Dev Growth Differ 23(3): 287–296
Poenie M, Alderton J, Tsien RY, Steinhardt RA (1985) Changes of free calcium levels with stages of the cell division cycle. Nature 315:147–149
Rink TJ, Tsien RY, Warner AE (1980) Free calcium in Xenopus embryos measured with ion-selective microelectrodes. Nature 283:658–660
Schantz AR (1985) Cytosolic free calcium-ion concentration in cleaving embryonic cells of Oryzias latipes measured with calcium-selective microelectrodes. J Cell Biol 100:947–954
Schlichter LC (1983) A role for action potentials in maturating Rana pipiens oocytes. Dev Biol 98:60–69
Shen SS (1983) In: Hartmann JF (ed) Mechanism and control of animal fertilization. Academic Press, New York, pp 213–267
Shen SS, Burgart LJ (1985) Intracellular sodium activity in the sea urchin egg during fertilization. J Cell Biol 101: 420–426
Shen SS, Steinhardt RA (1978) Direct measurement of intracellular pH during metabolic derepression of the sea urchin egg. Nature 272:253–254
Steinhardt R, Zucker R, Schatten G (1977) Intracellular calcium release at fertilization in the sea urchin egg. Dev Biol 58:185–196
Thomas RC (1978) Ion-sensitive intracellular microelectrodes. Academic Press, London
Ujec E, Keller O, Machek J, Pavlik V (1979) Low impedence coaxial K+ selective microelectrodes. Pflügers Arch 382: 189–192
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
de Santis, A., Ciccarelli, C. & Dale, B. Free intracellular cations in echinoderm oocytes and eggs. Eur Biophys J 14, 471–476 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00293256
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00293256