Abstract
At fertilisation, the sperm triggers an abrupt and transient increase in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in the oocyte cytoplasm. In eutherian mammals, oocytes exhibit multiple [Ca2+]i transients which are necessary for egg activation. We investigated [Ca2+]i in the marsupial opossum, Monodelphis domestica. Embryo development in this therian mammal is quite distinct from that in most Eutheria. Oestrus was induced in an adult female opossum by introduction of a male into her cage. Injection of a boar sperm extract induced repetitive increases in [Ca2+]i. Each oscillation travelled across and around the periphery of the egg in a wave-like manner. A control injection of KCI elicited no change in [Ca2+]i. This is the first observation of [Ca2+]i oscillations in the oocyte of a marsupial. The repetitive nature of the [Ca2+]i changes were more similar to those in oocytes of Eutheria than those in oocytes of non-mammalian vertebrates.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 271-277 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Zygote |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 1999 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Calcium
- Marsupial
- Monodelphis domestica
- Oocyte
- Sperm factor