title: Low temperature and fertilization-induced Ca2+ changes in rat eggs.
abstract: In mammalian eggs, activation by sperm that leads to resumption of meiosis is characterized by an explosive transient increase in intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i), followed by [Ca2+]i oscillations. In addition to the spermatozoon, various treatments can induce parthenogenetic activation, accompanied by an elevation of [Ca2+]i. It has been reported that cooling can induce egg activation, yet the mechanism of this phenomenon has not been elucidated. In the present study we followed changes in egg [Ca2+]i (measured by Fura-2 fluorescence ratio imaging) during activation by cooling, using conditions that ensure a low rate of spontaneous activation. Our present findings demonstrate that cooling induces egg activation as manifested by [Ca2+]i transient(s) and second polar body extrusion. Seventy-eight of 104 eggs responded to cooling with increased [Ca2+]i. Thirty-five percent of the responding eggs displayed a single [Ca2+]i transient, while 65% exhibited at least two [Ca2+]i transients within the time window of the experiment (30-40 min). Twenty-two percent of these eggs displayed high-frequency oscillations (intervals of 3.5-5.9 min). In these eggs, the overall pattern of calcium dynamics was similar to that observed in eggs activated by sperm, as judged by the transient's intervals, duration, and a gradual increase in the amplitude of successive transients. The amplitudes of [Ca2+]i transients, however, were 2-3 times lower. We propose that cooling affects [Ca2+]i homeostasis to produce fertilization-like changes in [Ca2+]i, possibly associated with parthenogenetic activation. Moreover, great care should be exercised to prevent temperature changes during egg handling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Embryology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ben-Yosef
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oron
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shalgi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D006706:Homeostasis; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium