Surface contraction of dividing newt eggs induced by lowering the external ionic strength or pH, or by trypsinization

As the first cleavage progresses, newt (Cynopus pyrrhogaster) eggs deprived of their vitelline membrane grow to expose the new, unpigmented surface to a saline medium full-strength Steinberg solution). Further exposure of these eggs to sucrose medium resulted in rapid and extensive contraction of the unpigmented surface. In the sucrose medium the contraction continued until the next cleavage, and eventually the eggs divided into many blastomeres. But partial reversal of the contraction was observed when, after brief treatment with sucrose medium, the eggs were returned to saline medium. This and other experiments indicated that the contraction was due to lowering of the extracellular ionic strength. A similar type of contraction was induced by acidification of the saline medium or by trypsinization. The contractions induced by these treatments did not absolutely require the presence of external Ca2+, had a rapid time course, and were restricted to the unpigmented region, suggesting that they had a common mechanism. Acidification of the egg cytoplasm with CO2 did not result in significant contraction. These findings, together with those of others, suggest that contraction of the unpigmented surface induced by these treatments is due to conformational changes of surface material.