Cytochemical Ca

The K-pyroantimonate/OsO4 (PA) cytochemical method coupled with EGTA and X-ray microanalytical controls has been used to localize Ca2+ at egg activation in Discoglossus pictus eggs. The results show that: 1) the PA method is able to selectively localize Ca2+ pools mobilized by activating stimuli; 2) the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) elements located in the animal dimple region, i.e. in the predetermined site of fertilization, are the first egg components labeled by precipitates; 3) a decreasing gradient of precipitates is present from the center beyond the boundaries of the dimple region; 4) precipitates are lacking in the remainder of the egg even at late times after activation. The possibilities are discussed that a) SER is the major Ca2+ -releasing store at activation in Discoglossus, and b) the observed gradient of pyroantimonate-detected Ca2+ reflects an ionic Ca2+ gradient.