Contribution of divalent cations to the maintenance of membrane potentials in the oocytes of Pleurodeles waltlii Michah (Amphibia, Urodela)]

When the external concentration of Ca and Mg is changed, the oocyte membrane potential, in the Urodela Amphibian: Pleurodeles waltlii, is not significantly modified. The addition of chelator agents, EGTA and EDTA in Ca, Mg free Steinberg solution promotes a membrane depolarisation and the rise of membrane conductance. It is concluded that divalent ions Ca++ and Mg++ are needed to maintain a potential difference between internal and external medium of the oocyte.