Temporal and spatial dynamics of the periodic increase in intracellular free calcium at fertilization of golden hamster eggs.
A series of periodic increases in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) occurred upon fertilization in golden hamster eggs. The spatial distribution of the Ca2+ transients was investigated in single zona-free, aequorin-injected eggs, inseminated by single sperm. A supersensitive TV camera system for recording Ca2+-aequorin luminescence enabled us to observe the spatial distribution of the Ca2+ rise. In the first response, which usually occurred 10-30 sec after the sperm attachment, the increase in [Ca2+]i began near the sperm attachment site, and the Ca2+ rise spread over the entire egg within 4-7 sec. The Ca2+ rise attained its peak in 5-8 sec, declined with almost even distribution, and ceased in 12-17 sec. The spreading Ca2+ rise was repeated in the second and sometimes the third response, starting from the same focus, but spreading more rapidly (approximately 2 sec). In succeeding responses [Ca2+]i increased synchronously in the whole cytoplasm within 1 sec. When additional sperm attached to the egg after the occurrence of the first response by the first sperm, the spread of the Ca2+ rise could take place from near the site of additional sperm attachment but only in the second or third response.
D000331:Aequorin; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D006224:Cricetinae; D005306:Fertilization; D008297:Male; D010063:Ovum / Q000502:physiology*; D010507:Periodicity; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D015053:Zygote / Q000502:physiology*
D000331:Aequorin; D002118:Calcium