Pathways Involved in RGD-Mediated Calcium Transients in Mature Bovine Oocytes

Abstract

An arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD)-containing peptide has been reported to generate calcium transients in bovine oocytes similar to those observed at fertilization. The research objective herein was to evaluate the response of bovine oocytes to an RGD peptide after injection with known antagonists of calcium releasing mechanisms in order to determine the initial calcium releasing pathway. Oocytes were injected with either heparin, an inhibitor of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP₃) induced calcium response, or procaine, which inhibits calcium release through the ryanodine receptor. Oocytes injected with heparin prior to RGD exposure did not display a calcium response. Oocytes injected with procaine prior to RGD exposure did exhibit a calcium response. Electroporation of IP₃, caffeine, or exposure to RGD alone elicited a calcium response for each treatment group. Injection of heparin, procaine, vehicle medium (VM), or exposure to a non-RGD-containing peptide alone failed to elicit a calcium response. The data indicates that the RGD peptide is able to induce calcium transients in oocytes inhibited with procaine, but not those inhibited with heparin. These data suggest the pathway whereby the RGD peptide induces the first intracellular calcium transient in bovine oocytes is through IP₃-mediated stores.