Developmental change of a depolarization-induced sodium permeability in the oocyte of Xenopus laevis.
In the full grown oocyte of Xenopus laevis, a sodium permeability can be induced by depolarization to positive potential with current injection. Voltage-clamp analysis has shown that depolarization causes a long-lasting modification of the membrane during which voltage-gated sodium channels become functional. In the present study, I have looked for the existence of these channels during cell growth. The channels appear during a very restricted period of cell growth, corresponding to Dumont stage V. A possible biological function is discussed.
D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005260:Female; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D010539:Permeability; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*; D014981:Xenopus
D007473:Ion Channels; D012964:Sodium