Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Manipulation and In Vitro Maturation of Xenopus laevis Oocytes, Followed by Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, to Study Embryonic Development
Published on: February 9, 2015
Abstract:
The maturation of the amphibian oocyte has been analyzed. Progesterone as well as organomercurials, lanthanum chloride and propranolol rapidly induce maturation. These chemicals are active only is applied on the cell surface. The mechanism seems to be an induction of the migration of Ca2+ from the cell membrane to the cytoplasm. K + may also play a role. Progesterone induced maturation involves synthesis of histone and histone kinase as well as several biologically active but chemically unidentified factors. cAMP does not seem to be directly involved, whereas protein phosphorylation is so.
Related Concept Videos
Oogenesis
Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration
Various transmembrane receptors, such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), elicit a response to extracellular signals by increasing cytosolic calcium. Activated GPCRs...
Ovarian Cycle
Oogenesis
Each primary oocyte is surrounded by a layer of pre-granulosa cells, forming what is known...
Folliculogenesis
Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle
Before puberty, the hypothalamus releases GnRH in a low frequency, low amplitude pulsatile manner. This along with the immature hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity, results in low estrogen levels and the absence of a fully functional ovarian cycle. At puberty, GnRH secretion increases in both frequency and...

