Hum. Reprod. Advance Access originally published online on July 29, 2005
Human Reproduction 2005 20(11):3053-3061; doi:10.1093/humrep/dei215
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Strontium promotes calcium oscillations in mouse meiotic oocytes and early embryos through InsP3 receptors, and requires activation of phospholipase and the synergistic action of InsP3
1 Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, China, 2 Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, China
3 To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: fzsun{at}genetics.ac.cn
BACKGROUND: Sr2+ is the most efficient agent for mouse oocyte activation and functions by inducing Ca2+ oscillations. However, its specific mechanism of action remains unknown. Here we investigated the specificity and possible mechanism of Sr2+-induced Ca2+ oscillations in mouse oocytes and early embryos. METHODS: Ca2+ oscillations in oocytes and embryos were measured by ratiometric fluorescence imaging using fura-2AM. The role of phospholipase C (PLC) and inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) receptors in Sr2+-induced Ca2+ oscillations was examined by selective inhibitors. RESULTS: Sr2+ can induce Ca2+ oscillations in both immature and mature oocytes, and in early embryos. A cell cycle stage-dependent phenomenon to Sr2+ stimulation was observed in 1-cell embryos. By using a low molecular weight heparin to antagonize the function of InsP3 receptors, we were able to show that InsP3 receptors are essential for Sr2+-induced Ca2+ oscillations. Treating metaphase II (MII) oocytes with the PLC inhibitor, U73122
Key words:
calcium oscillations/embryos/InsP3R/oocytes/Sr2+
* Zhang and Pan contributed equally to this work
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J. Loren and O. Lacham-Kaplan
The employment of strontium to activate mouse oocytes: effects on spermatid-injection outcome
Reproduction,
February 1, 2006;
131(2):
259 - 267.
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