What is it about?
First of all, the authors have to apologize to readers. For some reason, the cover image is distorted. Image of oocytes is supposed to be circles not oval like the cover image. Starfish oocytes almost sphere and look like circle using microscope. Images are montages of changes in intracelluar Ca2+ in a mature oocyte at normal control fertilization and a partly mature oocyte (PMO) at activation after insemination. Color corresponds changes in Ca2+ using fluorescence dye. Red is higher and blue is lower concentration of Ca2+. Note; compare changes in Ca2+ in control with PMO.
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Why is it important?
It has not been known precisely about how electrical responses happen and the mechanisms of changes in Cai in oocytes develop during oocyte maturation although changes in Ca2+ during fertilization in starfish oocyte has long been known. We firstly simultaneously measured sperm-induced membrane current (SIMC ) and changes in Cai at three distinct developmental stages, immature, partly mature, and mature oocyte stage. Unexpectedly we found repetitive responses/fluctuating responses in changes in Ca2+ and its corresponding response of membrane current in many PMOs.
Perspectives
From the study, the mechanism of Ca2+ rising and the propagation of changes in intracellular Ca2+ (Cai) seem to be distinct or independent. We unfortunately are not led to an understanding of the complete mechanisms of Ca wave propagation. Considering the mechanism of propagation, we need to think that fluctuating response in partly mature oocytes (PMO)s could be connected to the mechanism of propagation because changes in Cai were also spatially fluctuating while sperm-induced membrane current (SIMC) was fluctuating (see Fig. 6). We or someone would like to resolve the mechanisms of Ca wave propagation and fluctuation of Ca2+ changes.
pHD Tatsuma Mohri
National Institute for Physiological Sciences
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Front Cover Image, Volume 89, Issue 1, January 2022, Molecular Reproduction and Development, January 2022, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23479.
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