Copper-stimulated respiration in the unfertilized egg of the Eurasian perch, Perca fluviatilis (L).
The addition of Cu2+ (0.1-1.0 mM) to respiring, unfertilized eggs produced a marked stimulation in the rate of respiration whereas Zn2+ had no effect over the same concentration range. In the absence of Cu2+, temperature had little effect on unfertilized egg respiration but the Cu2+ stimulated respiratory rate showed the more normal response with a Q10 of 1.86 (10-20 degrees C). It appears that perch egg respiration is rate-limited by a physical event and it is suggested that Cu2+ may act by dissipating an oxygen permeability barrier located at the chorion.
D000818:Animals; D000968:Antimycin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D007700:Kinetics; D010063:Ovum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects*; D013696:Temperature; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology
D000968:Antimycin A; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc