Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Fertilization01:38

Fertilization

71.2K
During fertilization, an egg and sperm cell fuse to create a new diploid structure. In humans, the process occurs once the egg has been released from the ovary, and travels into the fallopian tubes. The process requires several key steps: 1) sperm present in the genital tract must locate the egg; 2) once there, sperm need to release enzymes to help them burrow through the protective zona pellucida of the egg; and 3) the membranes of a single sperm cell and egg must fuse, with the sperm...
71.2K
Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration01:27

Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration

3.4K
Calcium is an essential signaling molecule required for various cellular functions. Calcium pumps and ion channels on cell and organellar membranes, such as those on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), regulate calcium concentrations inside the cell. They remain closed, keeping the cytosolic calcium levels low at a resting state.
Various transmembrane receptors, such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), elicit a response to extracellular signals by increasing cytosolic calcium. Activated GPCRs...
3.4K
Endergonic and Exergonic Reactions in the Cell01:27

Endergonic and Exergonic Reactions in the Cell

15.3K
If energy releases during a chemical reaction, then the resulting value will be a negative number. In other words, reactions that release energy have a ∆G < 0. A negative ∆G also means that the reaction's products have less free energy than the reactants because they gave off some free energy during the reaction. Scientists call reactions with a negative ∆G, and which consequently release free energy, exergonic reactions. Exergonic means energy is exiting the...
15.3K
Calmodulin-dependent Signaling01:16

Calmodulin-dependent Signaling

5.2K
Calmodulin (CaM) is a calcium-binding protein in eukaryotes that controls various calcium-regulated cellular processes. It has four calcium-binding sites that bind calcium to form the calcium-calmodulin ( Ca2+-CaM) complex. GPCR stimulation increases the calcium levels in the cells that bind to CaM and induces a conformational change.
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
5.2K
Coupled Reactions01:17

Coupled Reactions

7.9K
Cellular processes such as building and breaking down complex molecules occur through stepwise chemical reactions. Some of these chemical reactions are spontaneous and release energy, whereas others require energy to proceed. Cells often couple the energy-releasing reaction with the energy-requiring one to carry out important cell functions. 
Energy in adenosine triphosphate or ATP molecules is easily accessible to do work. ATP powers the majority of energy-requiring cellular reactions....
7.9K
Acids, Bases and Neutralization Reactions01:27

Acids, Bases and Neutralization Reactions

6.9K
Acids and bases play several important roles in biology. The pH of a biological system can significantly impact the function of biological molecules, including enzymes, proteins, and nucleic acids. For example, enzymes have optimal pH ranges for their activity, and changes in pH can denature or alter their structure, affecting their function. Acids and bases also play a crucial role in cellular signaling and communication. The pH of the extracellular fluid around cells can influence the...
6.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Change in Intracellular Calcium Ions upon Maturation in Starfish Oocytes: (aequorin/calcium/oocyte maturation/1-methyladenine/starfish).

Development, growth & differentiation·2023
Same author

Exocytosis of Cortical Alveoli and Its Initiation Time in Medaka Eggs Induced by Microinjection of Various Agents: (cortical alveolus exocytosis/inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate/microinjection/medaka egg).

Development, growth & differentiation·2023
Same author

Analysis of the Role of Astral Rays in Pronuclear Migration in Sand Dollar Eggs by the Colcemid-UV Method: (sperm aster/pronuclear migration/sand dollar/colcemid-UV method).

Development, growth & differentiation·2023
Same author

Time Sequence of Early Events in Fertilization in the Medaka Egg: (micropyle/exocytosis/sperm movement/calcium release/medaka egg).

Development, growth & differentiation·2023
Same author

Nuclear Involvement in Localization of the Initiation Site of Surface Contraction Waves in Xenopus Eggs: (surface contraction waves/Xenopus laevis/nucleus/colchicine/cleavage).

Development, growth & differentiation·2023
Same author

Introduction and Expression of Recombinant β-Galactosidase Genes in Cleavage Stage Mouse Embryos: (microinjection/mouse embryo/gene expression).

Development, growth & differentiation·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 27, 2025

Measuring Intracellular Ca2+ Changes in Human Sperm using Four Techniques: Conventional Fluorometry, Stopped Flow Fluorometry, Flow Cytometry and Single Cell Imaging
19:26

Measuring Intracellular Ca2+ Changes in Human Sperm using Four Techniques: Conventional Fluorometry, Stopped Flow Fluorometry, Flow Cytometry and Single Cell Imaging

Published on: May 24, 2013

20.3K

Fertilization Reaction without Changes in Intracellular Ca

Takashi Iwamatsu1, Munehiro Kikuyama2, Yukio Hiramoto2

  • 1Department of Biology, Aichi University of Education, Kariya 448, Japan.

Development, Growth & Differentiation
|June 7, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Acetone treatment in medaka eggs prevents calcium increase and exocytosis during fertilization. However, key events like meiosis resumption and pronuclear fusion still occur, suggesting separate regulatory pathways.

Keywords:
(acetonecalcium releaseexocytosismedaka eggsperm penetration

More Related Videos

Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca2+-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm
05:44

Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca2+-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm

Published on: March 1, 2019

8.2K
In Vivo Visualization of Calcium Transients during Fertilization and Early Development in C. elegans
05:11

In Vivo Visualization of Calcium Transients during Fertilization and Early Development in C. elegans

Published on: July 12, 2024

456

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 27, 2025

Measuring Intracellular Ca2+ Changes in Human Sperm using Four Techniques: Conventional Fluorometry, Stopped Flow Fluorometry, Flow Cytometry and Single Cell Imaging
19:26

Measuring Intracellular Ca2+ Changes in Human Sperm using Four Techniques: Conventional Fluorometry, Stopped Flow Fluorometry, Flow Cytometry and Single Cell Imaging

Published on: May 24, 2013

20.3K
Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca2+-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm
05:44

Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca2+-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm

Published on: March 1, 2019

8.2K
In Vivo Visualization of Calcium Transients during Fertilization and Early Development in C. elegans
05:11

In Vivo Visualization of Calcium Transients during Fertilization and Early Development in C. elegans

Published on: July 12, 2024

456

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Cellular Biology
  • Reproductive Biology

Background:

  • Fertilization involves complex cellular events, including calcium ion (Ca2+) release and cortical reactions.
  • The precise role of intracellular Ca2+ increase in mediating all fertilization events remains under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the causal relationship between intracellular Ca2+ increase and other cortical reactions during medaka fertilization.
  • To elucidate the role of Ca2+ in mediating specific fertilization events in Oryzias latipes.

Main Methods:

  • Medaka eggs were microinjected with aequorin to measure intracellular Ca2+ luminescence.
  • Eggs were treated with acetone to inhibit specific cellular responses.
  • Insemination and Ca2+ microinjection were used to activate eggs.

Main Results:

  • Acetone treatment blocked intracellular Ca2+ increase and cortical alveoli exocytosis.
  • Despite Ca2+ inhibition, events like meiosis completion, pronuclear fusion, and cytoplasmic accumulation occurred normally.
  • Acetone-induced cytoplasmic activation led to egg contraction and meiosis resumption even without insemination.

Conclusions:

  • Acetone inactivates the egg plasma membrane, preventing Ca2+ propagation and exocytosis.
  • Sperm penetration, meiosis resumption, and ooplasmic segregation are regulated independently of Ca2+ release and exocytosis.
  • This suggests distinct molecular pathways govern different aspects of fertilization in medaka.