Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF )
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (73)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Homa, S.T.
Right arrow Articles by Swann, K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Homa, S.T.
Right arrow Articles by Swann, K.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Human Reproduction, Vol. 8, No. 8, pp. 1274-1281, 1993
© 1993 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

research-article

Fertilization and early embryology: The role of calcium in mammalian oocyte maturation and egg activation

S.T. Homa1, J. Carroll2 and K. Swann2

IVF Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St Bartholomew's Hospital London EC1A 7BE 2MRC Experimental Embryology and Teratology Unit, St George's Hospital Medical School London SW17 ORE, UK

Correspondence: 1To whom correspondence should be addressed

The maturation of the immature oocyte and the fertilization of a mature egg are two absolute prerequisites for mammalian embryo development. There is increasing evidence in mammals that both oocyte maturation and egg activation at fertilization are controlled by changes in intracellular free Ca2+ levels. The role of Ca2+ changes at fertilization is clear in that they are both required and sufficient for egg activation. However, it is not established how the sperm causes Ca2+ changes in eggs at fertilization, nor how different patterns of Ca2+ change affect embryo development. The role of Ca2+ in triggering oocyte maturation is less clear, although preventing intracellular Ca2+ changes can inhibit meiotic maturation at specific stages. Studies on how Ca2+ regulates meiosis and fertilization in mammals may provide new insights into the causes of failed fertilization in human IVF procedures.

Key words: calcium/development/egg/in-vitro fertilization/oocyte


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 ReproductionHome page
A Nation and L Selwood
The production of mature oocytes from adult ovaries following primary follicle culture in a marsupial
Reproduction, August 1, 2009; 138(2): 247 - 255.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Reprod.Home page
L. Sun, R. Hodeify, S. Haun, A. Charlesworth, A. M. MacNicol, S. Ponnappan, U. Ponnappan, C. Prigent, and K. Machaca
Ca2+ Homeostasis Regulates Xenopus Oocyte Maturation
Biol Reprod, April 1, 2008; 78(4): 726 - 735.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Physiol. Rev.Home page
M. Whitaker
Calcium at Fertilization and in Early Development
Physiol Rev, January 1, 2006; 86(1): 25 - 88.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
J. Otsuki, A. Okada, K. Morimoto, Y. Nagai, and H. Kubo
The relationship between pregnancy outcome and smooth endoplasmic reticulum clusters in MII human oocytes
Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2004; 19(7): 1591 - 1597.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JCBHome page
L. Sun and K. Machaca
Ca2+cyt negatively regulates the initiation of oocyte maturation
J. Cell Biol., April 12, 2004; 165(1): 63 - 75.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Mol Hum ReprodHome page
P.T. Goud, A.P. Goud, P. Van Oostveldt, and M. Dhont
Presence and dynamic redistribution of type I inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors in human oocytes and embryos during in-vitro maturation, fertilization and early cleavage divisions
Mol. Hum. Reprod., May 1, 1999; 5(5): 441 - 451.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Physiol. Rev.Home page
K. TAKAHASHI and Y. OKAMURA
Ion Channels and Early Development of Neural Cells
Physiol Rev, April 1, 1998; 78(2): 307 - 337.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 DevelopmentHome page
C Sette, A Bevilacqua, A Bianchini, F Mangia, R Geremia, and P Rossi
Parthenogenetic activation of mouse eggs by microinjection of a truncated c-kit tyrosine kinase present in spermatozoa
Development, January 6, 1997; 124(11): 2267 - 2274.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 JCBHome page
K. Machaca and S. Haun
Induction of maturation-promoting factor during Xenopus oocyte maturation uncouples Ca2+ store depletion from store-operated Ca2+ entry
J. Cell Biol., January 7, 2002; 156(1): 75 - 86.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.