title: Thapsigargin induces cytoplasmic free Ca2+ oscillations in mouse oocytes.
abstract: The mechanisms of calcium signalling in mammalian oocytes during maturation and fertilization are controversial. In this study we measured intracellular free Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) with the photoprotein aequorin microinjected into immature mouse oocytes. Immature mouse oocytes typically produced [Ca2+]i responses to muscarinic acetylcholine (ACh) stimulation with two types of component. The first component consisted of a broad transient rise in [Ca2+]i lasting about 1 min. The second component consisted of pulsatile oscillations which could occur before, during or after the broad transient, but typically occurred on the rising phase of the broad transient, with a duration of about 5 s. Removal of external Ca2+ ([Ca2+]o) abolished the Ca2+ responses to ACh. Exposure of oocytes to the specific microsomal Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitors thapsigargin (TG) and cyclopiazonic acid unexpectedly produced sustained oscillations in [Ca2+]i which were sensitive to the concentration of Ca2+ in the external milieu. The frequency of these oscillations was slow, and ceased, sometimes after several cycles, when Ca2+o was removed. Raised [Ca2+]o significantly increased the frequency in cells oscillating to TG and stimulated nonoscillating cells to begin oscillating. The majority of responsive oocytes which did not produce oscillations to ACh alone (70%), did so after TG treatment. Detailed data analysis indicated that these oscillations were identical to those generated by TG alone, with a similar sensitivity to changes in [Ca2+]o. Exposure of oocytes to ryanodine did not inhibit oscillatory behaviour. These results suggest that immature mouse oocytes possess a store which is insensitive to both TG and ryanodine and is capable of supporting [Ca2+]i oscillations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Cuthbertson
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000331:Aequorin; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008845:Microinjections; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010507:Periodicity; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019284:Thapsigargin
chemical_list: D007211:Indoles; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D013729:Terpenes; D000331:Aequorin; D019284:Thapsigargin; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases; D000109:Acetylcholine; D002118:Calcium; C000543:cyclopiazonic acid