Dev Growth Differ 1988 Feb 01;301:1-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-169X.1988.00001.x.

Activation of Sea Urchin Eggs by Halothane and Its Inhibition by Dantrolene: (sea urchin eggs/fertilization/halothane/dantrolene/nifedipine).

Abstract
Eggs of the sea urchin, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus, were stimulated by halothane, known to induce Ca2+ release from sarcosome, to cause fertilization membrane formation in normal and Ca2+ free artificial sea water. In the absence of external Ca2+ , halothane-induced formation of fertilization membrane was inhibited by dantrolene, an inhibitor of Ca2+ release from sarcosome, but was not blocked by nifedipine, a Ca2+ antagonist specific to Ca2+ channels in plasma membrane. Ca2+ release from sedimentable fraction isolated from eggs was induced by halothane and was inhibited by dantrolene, but was not blocked by nifedipine. In normal artificial sea water, halothane-caused egg activation was not inhibited either by dantrolene or by nifedipine, but was blocked in the presence of both compounds. 45 Ca2+ influx was substantially stimulated by halothane in eggs exposed to 45 CaCl2 . Halothane-induced 45 Ca2+ influx into eggs was inhibited by nifedipine but was not blocked by dantrolene. When Ca2+ release from intracellular organellae is blocked, Ca2+ transport through Ca2+ channels in plasma membrane probably acts as a "fail-safe" system to induce an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ level, resulting in egg activation.

PubMed ID: 37281896
Article link: Dev Growth Differ