[In vitro maturation of the ovocyte of Xenopus laevis under the effect of pharmacological agents related to propranolol].

The maturation of Xenopus laevis ovocytes was performed after 15 hrs. exposure to progesterone (1 mug/ml). Similar results were obtained following a treatment of ovocytes with pharmacological agents such as propranolol and related drugs, at 5 X 10(-4) to 10(-2) M concentrations. Sotalol was totally ineffective at the same concentrations. The former drugs, and not sotalol, are supposed to interact within the membrane with some calcium sites, translocation of the ion inside being then produced. These results suggest a first interaction of the steroid hormone with membrane calcium sites and possible role of this ion in the maturational events.