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Effects of quinacrine on egg activation: a possible role for phospholipase A₂ in sea urchin fertilization
Journal article

Effects of quinacrine on egg activation: a possible role for phospholipase A₂ in sea urchin fertilization

Bradley J. Van Voorhis, Gary D Snyder and Frank J Longo
Invertebrate Reproduction and Development, Vol.21(1), pp.33-41
1992
DOI: 10.1080/07924259.1992.9672217

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Abstract

Summary The possible role of arachidonic acid and its metabolites in sea urchin egg activation was examined using inhibitors of arachidonic acid release and metabolism. Quinacrine, a phospholipase A2 inhibitor, blocked the cortical granule reaction and inhibited pronuclear migration and cleavage in fertilized eggs. Indomethacin and eicosatetrayenoic acid, blockers of arachidonic acid metabolism, had no affect on these processes. These findings suggest that phospholipase A2 activation may be important in mediating events involving cortical granule exocytosis, pronuclear morphogenesis and mitosis in fertilized sea urchin eggs, perhaps by releasing free arachidonic acid. Subsequent metabolism of arachidonic acid does not seem to be involved in processes of egg activation as inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism had no demonstrable effects on fertilization events following egg activation and the cortical granule reaction.
Obstetrics and Gynecology

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