ISSN:
0148-7280
Keywords:
mouse
;
in vitro fertilization
;
inhibitors of fertilization
;
calcium
;
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Better than 75% fertilization of C57BL/6 mouse eggs with C57BL/6 sperm is obtained in vitro in a modified Kreb's-Ringer-bicarbonate medium containing 8 mM HEPES. No fertilization of obtained when Ca2+ is omitted from this medium. The drug verapamil, which interferes with Ca2+ channels and blocks the acrosome reaction [Schackmann et al, 1978] and fertilization in the sea urchin, also blocks fertilization of mouse eggs in vitro when included in complete medium at a concentration of 80 μg/ml. Tetraethylammonium, which inhibits delayed axonal potassium currents and prevents the acrosome reaction in sea urchin sperm, also completely inhibits fertilization of mouse eggs in vitro at a concentration of 5 mM. Tetramethylammonium, which does not inhibit potassium movements at the same concentration reduces fertilization by about 50%. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that ion movements are necessary for activation of the sperm and/or egg in mouse fertilization.
Additional Material:
1 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mrd.1120030102
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