ISSN:
0886-1544
Keywords:
fertilization
;
Ca2+ wave
;
fura-2
;
sea urchin egg
;
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
A wave front of increased free calcium traversing the egg at fertilization is demonstrated in the sea urchin Lytechinus pictus. The use of the fluorescent calcium chelator fura-2 in combination with low-light-level TV microscopy and image processing allows the visualization of the Ca2+ wave front with high spatial and temporal resolution. Such a wave is demonstrated as increased fluorescence after an excitation of 340-nm wavelength and as the reciprocal image in form of a reduced fluorescence when excited at 380 nm. The band-like appearance of the wave resembles the Ca2+ wave described for larger eggs of other species. In a dispermic egg the high resolution of the system used allows us to recognize two waves of Ca2+ originating from the respective points of sperm entry.
Additional Material:
4 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cm.970090309
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