[Role of hydration in ovulation of common frog oocytes in vitro]

Stimulation of ovulation of the common frog Rana temporaria oocytes with homologous pituitary extract caused an increase in their volume. Factors that are known to inhibit hydration in teleostean oocytes (potassium-free Ringer solution and inhibitor of Na+, K(+)-ATPase--ouabain), as well as use of aquaporin inhibitors (mercuric chloride and methylmethanethiosulphonate) inhibited also homologous pituitary extract-induced volume increase in follicle-enclosed oocytes and let to reduced percentage of ovulated oocytes. Volume of denuded oocytes remained unchanged in the course of maturation when exposed to progesterone or other treatments. The data obtained suggest that stimulation ofoocyte ovulation in the common frog caused an increase in their hydration that in necessary for their ovulation but this did not occur in denuded cells.