Biomaterial Database

Changes in permeability of sea urchin egg membrane to urea after fertilization or activation. 1980

R Christen, and C Sardet

1. Fertilization or artificial activation of the sea urchin egg, are known to increase the plasma membrane permeability to ions and small metabolites. We have examined the permeability properties of the egg membrane to urea. 2. Urea influx is not saturable and is slightly dependent on temperature. It is inhibited by phloretin. 3. Fertilization leads to a biphasic increase in urea flux kinetics. The first acceleration lasts about 10 min. The second acceleration is maintained at least up to the first cleavage. 4. The ionophore A 23187 mimics exactly fertilization. 5. Weak bases such as procaine lead to a gradual acceleration in urea flux kinetics. The response depends on the dose of procaine added. 6. The inhibitor of oxydative phosphorylation 2,4-DNP fails to block the accelerations triggered by fertilization or activation by A 23187. 7. We discuss the results in light of the early and late events of egg activation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D010063	Ovum	A mature haploid female germ cell extruded from the OVARY at OVULATION.	Egg,Egg, Unfertilized,Ova,Eggs, Unfertilized,Unfertilized Egg,Unfertilized Eggs
D010693	Phloretin	A natural dihydrochalcone found in apples and many other fruits.
D011343	Procaine	A local anesthetic of the ester type that has a slow onset and a short duration of action. It is mainly used for infiltration anesthesia, peripheral nerve block, and spinal block. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p1016).	Anuject,Geriocaine,Gerokit,Hewedolor-Procain,Lophakomp-Procain N,Novocain,Novocaine,Procain Braun,Procain Jenapharm,Procain Rödler,Procain Steigerwald,Procain curasan,Procaina Serra,Procaine Hydrochloride,Pröcaine chlorhydrate Lavoisier,Röwo Procain,procain-loges,Hydrochloride, Procaine
D002463	Cell Membrane Permeability	A quality of cell membranes which permits the passage of solvents and solutes into and out of cells.	Permeability, Cell Membrane
D004140	Dinitrophenols	Organic compounds that contain two nitro groups attached to a phenol.
D005260	Female		Females
D005306	Fertilization	The fusion of a spermatozoon (SPERMATOZOA) with an OVUM thus resulting in the formation of a ZYGOTE.	Conception,Fertilization, Delayed,Fertilization, Polyspermic,Conceptions,Delayed Fertilization,Delayed Fertilizations,Fertilizations,Fertilizations, Delayed,Fertilizations, Polyspermic,Polyspermic Fertilization,Polyspermic Fertilizations
D000001	Calcimycin	An ionophorous, polyether antibiotic from Streptomyces chartreusensis. It binds and transports CALCIUM and other divalent cations across membranes and uncouples oxidative phosphorylation while inhibiting ATPase of rat liver mitochondria. The substance is used mostly as a biochemical tool to study the role of divalent cations in various biological systems.	4-Benzoxazolecarboxylic acid, 5-(methylamino)-2-((3,9,11-trimethyl-8-(1-methyl-2-oxo-2-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)ethyl)-1,7-dioxaspiro(5.5)undec-2-yl)methyl)-, (6S-(6alpha(2S,3S),8beta(R*),9beta,11alpha))-,A-23187,A23187,Antibiotic A23187,A 23187,A23187, Antibiotic
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia