Dependence of fertilization in sea urchins, Stronglyocentrotus purpuratus, on microfilament formation and internal calcium concentration
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Biological Sciences
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Bachelor's Degree
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Abstract
Fertilization in sea urchins, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, is the result of a series
of interactions between the egg and sperm. Microfilament formation has been implicated in both
the acrosomal process formation and the entry of the sperm into the egg. Changes in internal
calcium concentrations have been linked to exocytosis reactions that occur in both the egg and
the sperm. Therefore, the dependence of fertilization on microfilament generation and changes in
internal calcium concentration were determined by examining the effects of cytochalasin and
calcium ionophore A23187 on sea urchin fertilization. These experiments demonstrated the
dependence of the fertilization process on microfilament generation and the changes in internal
calcium concentration; the inhibition of fertilization by cytochalasin confirmed the anticipated
dependence on microfilament generation, while the ability of calcium ionophore A23187 to
induce fertilization membrane formation, by increased permeability to calcium, confirmed the
importance of calcium as a signaling mechanism for exocytosis.