Steroid-induced meiotic division in Xenopus laevis oocytes: surface and calcium

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Abstract
Progesterone reinitiates meiotic maturation in X. laevis oocytes. The steroid apparently acts at the level of the cell surface. An induced change of Ca2+ distribution triggers a cascade of cytoplasmic events, including protein synthesis and germinal vesicle (nucleus) breakdown. These novel features of steroid hormone action in amphibian oocytes are discussed in relation to presently accepted views of the mechanism of action of steroid hormones in somatic cells.