P-ERK activity controls mitosis and survival of fertilized eggs.

A. Images taken 3 hours after fertilization of eggs transferred or not (control) 25 mins after fertilization in Ac containing or not 2 µM U0126. B. The experiment shown in A was performed three times and the data obtained pooled. Eggs were also transferred in 0Na or Am. % of divided eggs (a), embryos (b) or fragmented eggs (c) were determined 3 hours after fertilization (filled histograms) except for divided control eggs that were counted 80 mins after sperm addition (hatched histograms). 42–78 total embryos were counted in each condition. Values (means +/− sem) obtained in the presence of U0126 (grey histogram) are significantly different (student test, p