Summary
In egg vesicles ofGalleria mellonella (Lepidoptera) electron microprobe analysis reveals calcium in concentrations of 9 and 3 mmoles per 1,000 g tissue wet weight in oocytes and accompanying trophic cells, respectively. This high average level of calcium characterizes both pre- and postvitellogenic oocytes, but the distribution of calcium is not uniform. In postvitellogenic vesicles the central area of the ooplasm shows a higher content of Ca than peripheral one, what may be correlated with the distribution of mature yolk platelets within the ooplasm.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Azarnia R, Chambers EL (1970) Effects of fertilization on the calcium and magnesium content of the eggs ofArbacia punctulata. Biol Bull (Woods Hole, Mass) 139:413–414
Azarnia R, Chambers EL (1976) The role of divalent cations in activation of the sea urchin egg I. Effect of fertilization on divalent cation content. J Exp Zool 198:65–78
Burovina IV, Pivovarova NB (1978) X-ray local microanalysis in cytology. I. Quantitative electron probe microanalysis of biologically important elements in cell and cell compartments. Tsitologiya 20:1142–1150
Coleman JR, Nilsson JR, Warner RR, Batt P (1973) Electron probe analysis of refractive bodies inAmoeba proteus. Exp Cell Res 76:31–40
Coleman JR, Warner RR (1973) A procedure for quantitative electron probe microanalysis of biological material. Micron 4:61–68
Crankshaw DJ, Janis RA, Daniell EE (1977) The effects of Ca2+ antagonists on Ca2+ accumulation by subcellular fractions of rat myometrium. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 55:1028–1032
Dutkowski A, Skangiel-Kramska J, Przełecka A (1968) Incorporation of 1-C14-sodium palmitate into lipids of the ovarioles ofGalleria mellonella. Folia Histochem Cytochem 6:185–194
Fulton BP, Whittingham DG (1978) Activation of mammalian oocytes by intracellular injection of calcium. Nature (London) 273:149–151
Gilkey JC, Jaffe LF, Ridgway EB, Reynolds GT (1978) A free calcium wave traverses an activatingMedaka egg. J Cell Biol 76:448–466
Hunt S, Oates K (1977) Intracellular cationic counterion composition of an acid mucopolysaccharide. Nature (London) 268:370–372
Johnston RN, Paul M (1977) Calcium influx following fertilization of Urechis campo eggs. Dev Biol 57:364–374
Klekowski RZ, Czaja-Topińska J, Przełęcka A (1972) Developmental changes in the rate of oxygen consumption in egg vesicles ofGalleria mellonella. Folia Histochem Cytochem 10:213–226
Kosher RA, Searls RL (1973) Sulfated mucopolysaccharide synthesis during the development ofRana pipiens. Dev Biol 32:50–68
Mazia D (1937) The release of calcium in Arbacia eggs on fertilization. J Cell Comp Physiol 10:291–304
Peaucellier G (1977) Mise en évidence du rôle du calcium dans la réinitiation de la meiose des oocytes deSabellaria alveolata (L) (annélide polychète). CR Acad Sci Ser D 285:913–915
Przełęcka A (1966) Incorporation of 14-C-sodium palmitate into lipids and cell interaction in ovarioles ofGalleria mellonella (Lepidoptera). Ann Histochim 11:403–411
Przełęcka A (1978) Oogenesis inGalleria mellonella — cytochemical and ultrastructural studies (in Polish). Post Biol Kom 5:79–92
Przełęcka A, Sobota A (1976) Calcium dependent deposits at the plasma membrane during development of the oocyte ofGalleria mellonella. Cytobiologie 13:182–190
Ridgway EB, Gilney JC, Jaffe LF (1977) Free calcium increases explosively in activatingMedaka eggs. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 74:623–627
Seimiya T, Ohki S (1973) Ionic structure of phospholipid membranes, and binding of calcium ions. Biochim Biophys Acta 298:546–561
Shen S, Steinhardt RA (1976) An electrophysiological study of the membrane properties of the immature and mature oocyte of the batstarPatiria mimata. Dev Biol 48:148–162
Steinhardt RA, Epel D (1974) Activation of sea urchin eggs by a calcium ionophore. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 71:1915–1919
Steinhardt RA, Epel D, Caroll EJ, Yanagimachi R (1974) Is calcium ionophore a universal activator for unfertilised eggs? Nature (London) 252:41–43
Steinhardt RA, Zucker R, Schatten G (1977) Intracellular calcium release at fertilization in the sea urchin egg. Dev Biol 58:185–196
Vacquier VD (1975) The isolation of intact cortical granules from sea urchin eggs: Calcium ions trigger granule discharge. Dev Biol 43:62–74
Whittingham DG, Siracusa G (1978) The involvement of calcium in the activation of mammalian oocytes. Exp Cell Res 113:311–317
Williams RJP (1970) The biochemistry of sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium. Q Rev Chem Soc 24:331–365
Zucker RS, Steinhardt RA, Winkler MM (1978) Intracellular calcium release and the mechanism of parthenogenetic activation of the sea urchin egg. Dev Biol 65:285–295
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Przłęcka, A., Sobota, A., Burovina, I.V. et al. Calcium content and distribution in egg vesicles ofGalleria mellonella (Lepidoptera) as determined by X-ray microanalysis. Histochemistry 67, 321–329 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00692764
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00692764