Second messenger signalling during hormone-inducedXenopusoocyte maturation

Abstract

SummaryAlthough much information about such processes as cell cycle control, second messenger systems, protein kinases and steroid hormone action has been collected from studies ofXenopusoocyte maturation, we still have very little idea about how the steroid hormone, progesterone, signals the resumption of meiosis from the oocyte plasma membrane. In this review we re-examine the data on second messenger systems inXenopusoocytes and discuss some of the unresolved questions about hormone signal transduction during maturation. We outline some reasons for the contradictions in the literature and offer some suggestions for avenues of future research.