Exp Cell Res 1988 Jul 01;1771:205-11. doi: 10.1016/0014-4827(88)90038-9.

Primary and secondary messengers in the activation of ascidian eggs.

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Two early events of activation in the ascidian egg, the surface contraction and the fertilization current, were studied. Ca ionophore induces contraction without generating a fertilization current, whereas microinjection of IP3 or soluble fractions of homogenized spermatozoa trigger both a contraction and a current. This suggests that the primary trigger of activation in ascidian eggs is a soluble component of spermatozoa that may be released into the egg subsequent to gamete fusion. IP3, or other intermediates in phosphoinositide metabolism, is a putative second messenger that activates fertilization channels directly (probably a Ca-independent process), and subsequently induces surface contraction by releasing Ca from intracellular stores.

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