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Early events in mammalian egg activation.
1Department of Embryology and Teratology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
Human Reproduction (Oxford, England)
|March 26, 1999
Summary
Fertilization triggers mammalian egg activation, a process initiated by calcium ions (Ca2+). This review explores the roles of Ca2+ and protein kinase C (PKC) in these crucial early events.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Cellular Signaling
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Fertilization initiates a cascade of events in mammalian eggs known as egg activation.
- Egg activation involves critical biochemical and morphological changes essential for development.
- The precise signaling pathways governing egg activation are still under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the early events of mammalian sperm-egg interaction.
- To discuss the roles of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and protein kinase C (PKC) in egg activation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of early mammalian sperm-egg interaction studies.
- Analysis of existing research on calcium and PKC signaling in egg activation.
Main Results:
- A transient rise in [Ca2+]i is critical for initiating egg activation.
- This rise leads to the cortical reaction and block to polyspermy.
- PKC is also implicated as a potential inducer of certain egg activation aspects.
Conclusions:
- Calcium signaling is fundamental to initiating mammalian egg activation.
- Both Ca2+ and PKC signaling pathways likely contribute to the complex process of egg activation.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the interplay between these second messengers.