Cell Motil Cytoskeleton 1988 Jan 01;93:271-7. doi: 10.1002/cm.970090309.

Wave of free calcium at fertilization in the sea urchin egg visualized with fura-2.

???displayArticle.abstract???
A wave front of increased free calcium traversing the egg at fertilization is demonstrated in the sea urchin Lytechinus pictus. The use of the fluorescent calcium chelator fura-2 in combination with low-light-level TV microscopy and image processing allows the visualization of the Ca2+ wave front with high spatial and temporal resolution. Such a wave is demonstrated as increased fluorescence after an excitation of 340-nm wavelength and as the reciprocal image in form of a reduced fluorescence when excited at 380 nm. The band-like appearance of the wave resembles the Ca2+ wave described for larger eggs of other species. In a dispermic egg the high resolution of the system used allows us to recognize two waves of Ca2+ originating from the respective points of sperm entry.

???displayArticle.pubmedLink??? 3365773
???displayArticle.link??? Cell Motil Cytoskeleton
???displayArticle.grants??? [+]

Genes referenced: LOC100887844