Initiation of the cortical reaction in hamster and sheep oocytes in response to inositol trisphosphate.

Microinjection of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate into sheep and hamster oocytes induces secretion of cortical granules in a dose-dependent manner. In the sheep, this effect is strongly pH-dependent with minimal exocytosis taking place at pH 6.8 but a full cortical reaction occurring at pH8.0. Exocytosis in the hamster is also affected by the pH of the external medium but to a lesser extent. Injection of GTP gamma S also induces exocytosis in both species but is more effective in the hamster. It is suggested that inositol metabolism stimulated by sperm-egg interaction with a GTP-binding protein may be part of the mechanism leading to cortical granule exocytosis and that this may be modulated by the external pH.