Biomaterial Database

Fertilization acid of sea urchin eggs is not a consequence of cortical granule exocytosis. 1976

M Paul, and J D Johnson, and D Epel

Sea urchin eggs treated with 10 mM NHC1 release a "fertilization acid" although cortical granule exocytosis does not take place. If the eggs are inseminated following ammonia activation, the cortical reaction occurs and a fertilization membrane elevates in the absence of detectable acid release. Examination by electron microscopy of eggs fixed between ammonia activation and insemination confirms the presence of intact granules. Thus, the fertilization acid is not caused by the release of the cortical granules. Ammonia treatment of fertilized eggs stimulates further release of acid. The release of acid can occur repeatedly in ammonia activated eggs if they are washed into normal seawater between successive ammonia treatments. Our results suggest that the release of fertilization acid is related to some metabolic process which can be turned "on or off".

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010063	Ovum	A mature haploid female germ cell extruded from the OVARY at OVULATION.	Egg,Egg, Unfertilized,Ova,Eggs, Unfertilized,Unfertilized Egg,Unfertilized Eggs
D005089	Exocytosis	Cellular release of material within membrane-limited vesicles by fusion of the vesicles with the CELL MEMBRANE.
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
D000641	Ammonia	A colorless alkaline gas. It is formed in the body during decomposition of organic materials during a large number of metabolically important reactions. Note that the aqueous form of ammonia is referred to as AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE.
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
D012617	Sea Urchins	Somewhat flattened, globular echinoderms, having thin, brittle shells of calcareous plates. They are useful models for studying FERTILIZATION and EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT.	Echinoidea,Sand-Dollar,Clypeasteroida,Sand Dollars,Clypeasteroidas,Dollar, Sand,Dollars, Sand,Echinoideas,Sand Dollar,Sand-Dollars,Sea Urchin,Urchin, Sea,Urchins, Sea