Biomaterial Database

Water permeability properties of the ovarian oocytes from Bufo arenarum and Xenopus laevis: a comparative study. 1994

C Capurro, and P Ford, and C Ibarra, and P Ripoche, and M Parisi

Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The water permeability properties of ovarian oocytes from Xenopus laevis and Bufo arenarum, a toad species found in the Buenos Aires region, were studied. We report that: (i) the water osmotic permeability (Pf, cm/sec x 10(-4)) was significantly higher in Bufo (6 degrees C = 12.3 +/- 2.4; 18 degrees C = 20.8 +/- 4.8) than in Xenopus oocytes (6 degrees C = 5.3 +/- 0.3; 18 degrees C = 6.2 +/- 1.6). The corresponding water diffusion permeability values (Pd, cm/sec x 10(-4)) were: Xenopus = 2.3 +/- 0.3 (6 degrees C) and 4.8 +/- 0.7 (18 degrees C); Bufo = 2.7 +/- 0.4 (6 degrees C) and 6.0 +/- 0.5 (18 degrees C). (ii) Amphotericin B increased the Pf and Pd values. The observed delta Pf/delta Pd ratio was not significantly different from the expected results (n = 3), after amphotericin B incorporation in both species. This means that the influence of unstirred layers and other potential artifactual compounds did not significantly affect our experimental results. (iii) Preincubation with gramicidin during 12 hr induced a clear increase in the oocyte volume. After that, a hypotonic shock only slightly increased the oocyte volume. Conversely, a hypertonic challenge induced a volume change significantly higher than the one observed in control conditions. (iv) Mercury ions did not affect the osmotic permeability in Xenopus oocytes but clearly inhibited, in a reversible way, the osmotic permeability in oocytes from B. arenarum. (v) Mercury ions did not reduce Pd values in either species.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008628	Mercury	A silver metallic element that exists as a liquid at room temperature. It has the atomic symbol Hg (from hydrargyrum, liquid silver), atomic number 80, and atomic weight 200.59. Mercury is used in many industrial applications and its salts have been employed therapeutically as purgatives, antisyphilitics, disinfectants, and astringents. It can be absorbed through the skin and mucous membranes which leads to MERCURY POISONING. Because of its toxicity, the clinical use of mercury and mercurials is diminishing.
D009865	Oocytes	Female germ cells derived from OOGONIA and termed OOCYTES when they enter MEIOSIS. The primary oocytes begin meiosis but are arrested at the diplotene state until OVULATION at PUBERTY to give rise to haploid secondary oocytes or ova (OVUM).	Ovocytes,Oocyte,Ovocyte
D009995	Osmosis	Tendency of fluids (e.g., water) to move from the less concentrated to the more concentrated side of a semipermeable membrane.	Osmoses
D010053	Ovary	The reproductive organ (GONADS) in female animals. In vertebrates, the ovary contains two functional parts: the OVARIAN FOLLICLE for the production of female germ cells (OOGENESIS); and the endocrine cells (GRANULOSA CELLS; THECA CELLS; and LUTEAL CELLS) for the production of ESTROGENS and PROGESTERONE.	Ovaries
D002022	Bufo arenarum	A species of the true toads, Bufonidae, found in South America.	Toad, Argentine,Argentine Toad,Argentine Toads,Toads, Argentine
D002462	Cell Membrane	The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.	Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
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
D005260	Female		Females
D006096	Gramicidin	A group of peptide antibiotics from BACILLUS brevis. Gramicidin C or S is a cyclic, ten-amino acid polypeptide and gramicidins A, B, D are linear. Gramicidin is one of the two principal components of TYROTHRICIN.	Gramicidin A,Gramicidin A(1),Gramicidin B,Gramicidin C,Gramicidin D,Gramicidin Dubos,Gramicidin J,Gramicidin K,Gramicidin NF,Gramicidin P,Gramicidin S,Gramicidins,Gramoderm,Linear Gramicidin,Gramicidin, Linear
D000666	Amphotericin B	Macrolide antifungal antibiotic produced by Streptomyces nodosus obtained from soil of the Orinoco river region of Venezuela.	Amphocil,Amphotericin,Amphotericin B Cholesterol Dispersion,Amphotericin B Colloidal Dispersion,Fungizone