ISSN:
1040-452X
Keywords:
Activation
;
Calcium
;
Strontium
;
Cycloheximide
;
Oocyte
;
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
We have examined the ability of the two parthenogenetic agents, strontium (Sr2+) and cycloheximide, to activate mouse oocytes. We demonstrate that Sr2+ and cycloheximide act synergistically to promote parthenogenetic activation up to the pronuclear stage in oocytes collected immediately after ovulation. These two agents appeared to act independently, since incubation in Sr2+ media triggered a series of intracellular Ca2+ rises without affecting protein synthesis and cycloheximide inhibited protein synthesis without causing any intracellular Ca2+ changes. In addition, cycloheximide did not alter the pattern of Ca2+ oscillations induced by Sr2+. In contrast, we show that another commonly used parthenogenetic activation treatment, the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, has dual effects. Exposure of oocytes to the Ca2+ ionophore, A 23187, in Ca2+- and Mg2+-free medium leads to the activation of young oocytes. However, as well as generating a Ca2+ increase, the treatment of mouse oocytes with A23187 and Ca2+- and Mg2+-free media led to a marked inhibition of protein synthesis. Our data show that parthenogenetic agents may have two important loci for activating mammalian oocytes and that the combined effect on Ca2+ release and protein synthesis is most effective. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Additional Material:
3 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mrd.1080410113
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