PKC in eggs and embryos

After a spermatozoon enters the egg, rapid processes such as the cortical granules exocytosis (CGE) occur. Other, later processes are observed as well, and they include resumption of the second meiotic division, second polar body (PBII) extrusion and rearrangement of the DNA inside the pronuclei (PN). The above mentioned biochemical processes involve signal transduction pathways that are well known in other cell systems, and require mediation of second messengers like Ca2+ and diacylglycerol (DAG) which are protein kinase C (PKC) activators. The present review, based upon recently published studies, raises the possibility of PKC involvement in fertilization and in early developmental stages of the mammalian embryo.