INDUCTION OF AMPHIBIAN OOCYTE MATURATION BY POLYVALENT CATIONS AND ALKALINE PH IN THE ABSENCE OF POTASSIUM-IONS

The maturation of Xenopus laevis oocytes was studied in media free of added potassium salts. Under these conditions maturation could be triggered by 1 mM Mn2+ and La3+ and, to a lesser extent, by 2-4 mM Ca2+ and Mg2+. Maturation induced by 1.5 mM Mn2+ was inhibited by K+ concentrations above 0.25 mM. Potassium was inhibitory when added up to 2 hr before germinal vesicle breakdown occurred. In potassium-free media, maturation could be induced by incubation of oocytes under mild alkaline media (pH 8.5-9). A high percentage of medium-sized oocytes (stage IV according to Dumont) was induced to mature by progesterone in the absence of potassium. Maturation of oocytes in potassium-free media was normal by the criteria of germinal vesicle breakdown, production of maturation promoting factor, vitelline membrane activation, and inhibition by known maturation inhibitors. © 1979.