Nitric oxide produced by cumulus cells stimulates maturation of mouse oocytes

2003 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shumin Bu ◽  
Guoliang Xia ◽  
Huirong Xie ◽  
Yong Guo
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Mouse Oocytes

Cumulus cells accelerate aging of mouse oocytes by secreting a soluble factor(s)

2007 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 521-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tian-Wu Qiao ◽  
Na Liu ◽  
De-Qiang Miao ◽  
Xia Zhang ◽  
Dong Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Soluble Factor ◽  
Accelerate Aging ◽  
Mouse Oocytes

249 FOLLICLE-STIMULATING HORMONE AND DIBUTYRYL cAMP TREATMENTS DURING IN VITRO MATURATION IMPROVE THE DEVELOPMENTAL COMPETENCE OF MOUSE OOCYTES

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 204
Author(s):  
R. Oishi ◽  
Y. Isaji ◽  
H. Imai ◽  
M. Yamada
Keyword(s):  
In Vitro Maturation ◽  
Basal Medium ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Developmental Competence ◽  
Control Medium ◽  
Dibutyryl Camp ◽  
Mouse Oocytes ◽  
Junctional Communication

The high level of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), which is provided to the oocytes from cumulus cells via gap junctional complexes in cumulus-enclosed oocytes (CEOs), is known to contribute to meiotic arrest at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage of CEOs. However, whether intraoocyte cAMP during the period of in vitro maturation (IVM) affects postfertilization developmental competence of mouse oocytes still remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of FSH or dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) treatment during IVM on in vitro development of mouse oocytes after in vitro fertilization (IVF). Whether a junctional association between cumulus cells and the oocyte would be essential for a cytoplasmic maturation-promoting effect was also examined. CEOs were isolated from and eCG-primed 3-week-old ICR mouse by rupturing preovulatory follicles with needles in M16 medium with 5% FCS and essential and nonessential amino acids (basal medium). IVM media used were basal medium without (control) or with 100 µm dbcAMP or 1 IU mL–1 FSH. Carbenoxolone (100 µm, CBX), an inhibitor of gap junction, was used to inhibit a junctional association between cumulus cells and the oocyte. Denuded oocytes (DOs) were prepared by repeatedly pipetting in basal medium with 0.2% hyaluronidase. CEOs and DOs were cultured in IVM media at 37�C under 5% CO2 in air for 16.5 h, and then transferred to TYH medium (a modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate medium) containing 0.4% BSA, followed by insemination with capacitated sperm. After 6 h of IVF, inseminated oocytes were cultured in KSOM medium with 0.3% BSA. Development to the 2-cell and blastocyst stages was estimated at 24 h and 120 h after IVF, respectively. All experiments were done in 3 replicates, and the statistical analysis was carried out by ANOVA and Fisher's protected least-squares difference (PLSD) test. When CEOs were matured in IVM media, the rates of postfertilization development to the 2-cell and blastocyst stages of oocytes matured in the control medium were very low(29% and 13%, respectively), whereas those of oocytes matured with FSH or dbcAMP significantly increased (FSH: 61% and 52%, dbcAMP: 63 and 57%, respectively, v. control; P < 0.05). Next, when CEOs were matured in basal medium with 1 IU mL–1 FSH and 100 µm CBX, the developmental rate to the 2-cell stage (56%) was similar to that in medium with FSH alone (61%) but the rate to the blastocyst stage (40%) was little lower compared with that in medium with FSH alone (52%), although not significantly different (P > 0.05). Furthermore, when DOs were matured in IVM media, the developmental rates to the blastocyst stage after IVF of the oocytes matured with FSH or dbcAMP significantly increased (FSH: 25%, dbcAMP: 15%; P < 0.05) compared with those in control medium (7%). Taken together, it is suggested that increasing the concentration of intraoocyte cAMP during the IVM period is important to improve the developmental competence after IVF of mouse oocytes, and that the competence is acquired in part in a cumulus-oocyte junctional communication-independent manner.

224 LOCALIZATION OF NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE ACTIVITY IN BUFFALO (BUBALUS BUBALIS) OOCYTES AND EMBRYOS

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 211
Author(s):  
K. R. Babu ◽  
R. Sharma ◽  
K. P. Singh ◽  
A. George ◽  
M. S. Chauhan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Embryo Development ◽  
In Vitro Maturation ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Epifluorescence Microscopy ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Nos Isoforms

Ovarian nitric oxide (NO) and that produced within the oocytes and embryos have been reported to play important roles in oocyte meiotic maturation and embryo development. Production of NO is catalyzed by NO synthase (NOS), which exists in 3 isoforms, the constitutive endothelial (eNOS) and neuronal (nNOS) isoforms and the inducible (iNOS) isoform. We have previously shown that low concentrations of NO stimulate and high concentrations inhibit embryo development, and that endogenous NO produced by iNOS is necessary for optimal embryo development in the buffalo. The present study was aimed at localizing different isoforms of NOS and examining their relative mRNA abundance in buffalo oocytes and embryos. Oocytes from slaughterhouse ovaries were subjected to in vitro maturation in 100-μL droplets (10 to 15 oocytes/droplet) of in vitro maturation medium (TCM-199 + 10% FBS + 5 μg mL–1 of pFSH + 1 μg mL–1 of oestradiol-17β + 0.81 mM sodium pyruvate + 10% buffalo follicular fluid + 50 μg mL–1 of gentamicin) for 24 h in a CO2 incubator (5% CO2 in air) at 38.5°C. In vitro fertilization was carried out by incubating in vitro-matured oocytes with 2 to 4 million spermatozoa mL–1 for 18 h. The presumed zygotes were cultured on original beds of cumulus cells in in vitro culture medium (mCR2aa + 0.6% BSA + 10% FBS) for up to 8 days post-insemination. Immature and in vitro-matured oocytes and embryos at the 2-cell, 4-cell, 8- to 16-cell, morula, and blastocyst stages were examined for the presence of NOS isoforms by indirect immunofluorescence staining using epifluorescence microscopy and RT-PCR. Each experiment was repeated in triplicate, and data were analysed using one-way ANOVA, after arcsine transformation of percentage values. Expression of all 3 NOS isoforms was detected inside the cytoplasm, in all the stages of oocytes and embryos examined, by both immunofluorescence and RT-PCR. Abundance of the iNOS transcript was significantly higher (P ≤ 0.01) in the morula and blastocyst stages compared with that in immature and in vitro-matured oocytes and in embryos at the 2-cell, 4-cell, and 8- to 16-cell stages, indicating that its expression was up-regulated at the 8- to 16-cell stage. The expression of eNOS was significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) in the immature and mature oocytes and in 8- to 16-cell stage embryos, morulae, and blastocysts than in the early-cleavage embryos at the 2- and 4-cell stages, indicating that it was down-regulated after fertilization and was up-regulated again at the 8- to 16-cell stage. Abundance of the nNOS transcript was not significantly different among all the stages of oocytes and embryos examined. These results demonstrate that different NOS isoforms are expressed in a dynamic manner during embryonic development in the buffalo. The role of an increase in expression of iNOS and eNOS at the 8- to 16-cell stage, at which a developmental block occurs in this species, needs to be examined.

201 ROLE OF THE NITRIC OXIDE SYSTEM IN EFFECTS OF PROLACTIN AND GROWTH HORMONE ON METAPHASE-II CHROMOSOMES IN BOVINE OOCYTES AGING IN VITRO

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 231
Author(s):  
I. Lebedeva ◽  
G. Singina ◽  
E. Shedova ◽  
A. Lopukhov ◽  
N. Zinovieva
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Growth Hormone ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Total Activity ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Pituitary Hormones ◽  
Oxide System ◽  
Nos Inhibitors ◽  
Bovine Oocytes

Aging of mammalian oocytes is the time-dependent process of cytological and molecular transformations leading to a decline in the ovum quality and developmental capacity. We have previously shown that 2 related pituitary hormones, prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH), may decelerate abnormal changes in the morphology of metaphase II (MII) chromosomes in bovine cumulus-enclosed oocytes (CEO) aging in vitro. The goal of the present research was to examine the involvement of different isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the actions of PRL and GH on MII chromosomes in aging bovine oocytes. Bovine CEO were matured for 20 h in TCM 199 containing 10% FCS, 10 μg mL–1 porcine FSH, and 10 μg mL–1 ovine LH. After IVM, CEO or denuded oocytes (DO) were cultured for 24 h in the aging medium of TCM 199 supplemented with 10% FCS (control). In experimental groups, the medium contained either 50 ng mL–1 bovine PRL or 10 ng mL–1 bovine GH and/or NOS inhibitors. The following inhibitors were applied: (1) N-propyl-l-arginine (NPLA; an inhibitor of neuronal NOS (nNOS), 5 μM) and (2) L-NAME (an effective inhibitor of both endothelial NOS (eNOS) and nNOS, 20 μM). Destructive changes of MII chromosomes in oocytes were assessed by the following morphological signs: decondensation, partial adherence, chromosome clumping into a single mass, and fragmentation. The total activity of NOS in oocytes was determined by NADPH-diaphorase staining. The data from 4–5 replicates were analysed by ANOVA. During CEO aging in the control medium, the rate of MII oocytes with destructive changes of chromosomes rose from 16.8 ± 2.1% to 58.5 ± 1.4% (P < 0.001), whereas both PRL and GH reduced this rate up to 42.0 ± 1.3% and 46.5 ± 1.6%, respectively (P < 0.001). The nNOS inhibitor NPLA abolished (P < 0.001) the inhibitory effect of PRL on abnormal modifications of chromosomes in CEO but did not affect the frequency of these modifications in the control or GH-treated groups. In the absence of the hormones, L-NAME (the eNOS+nNOS inhibitor) decreased the rate of aging CEOs with chromosome abnormalities from 58.5 ± 1.4% to 41.2 ± 2.5% (P < 0.001), acting unidirectionally with PRL and GH. Meanwhile, L-NAME enhanced (P < 0.05) the suppressing effect of PRL on destructive changes of MII chromosomes but did not influence the similar effect of GH. At the same time the chromosome morphology in senescent DOs was unaffected by the hormones or NOS inhibitors. Furthermore, the total activity of NOS in oocytes separated of cumulus after 24 h of aging was similar in the control and experimental groups. Thus, the inhibitory effect of GH on abnormal modifications of MII chromosomes in aging bovine oocytes may be related to a reduction of the eNOS activity in cumulus cells, whereas the respective effect of PRL is likely to be achieved by both inactivation of eNOS and activation of nNOS. This research was supported by RFBR (No. 13–04–01888).

IVM of mouse fully grown germinal vesicle oocytes upon a feeder layer of selected cumulus cells enhances their developmental competence

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 1068
Author(s):  
Federica Cavalera ◽  
Milena Simovic ◽  
Mario Zanoni ◽  
Valeria Merico ◽  
Silvia Garagna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Germinal Vesicle ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Development Rate ◽  
Developmental Competence ◽  
Blastocyst Development ◽  
Oocyte Developmental Competence ◽  
Mouse Oocytes ◽  
Feeder Layers ◽  
Morula Stage ◽  
Bidirectional Exchange

In the ovary, acquisition of oocyte developmental competence depends on a bidirectional exchange between the gamete and its companion cumulus cells (CCs). In this study we investigated the contribution of CCs surrounding oocytes of known developmental competence or incompetence to the acquisition of oocyte developmental competence. To this end, feeder layers of CCs (FL-CCs) were prepared using CCs isolated either from: (1) developmentally competent mouse oocytes whose nucleolus was surrounded by a chromatin ring (FL-SN-CCs); or (2) developmentally incompetent mouse oocytes whose nucleolus was not surrounded by a chromatin ring (FL-NSN-CCs). Denuded, fully grown oocytes (DOs) were matured to the MII stage on either FL-SN-CCs or FL-NSN-CCs, inseminated with spermatozoa and cultured throughout preimplantation development. FL-SN-CCs significantly improved the acquisition of oocyte developmental competence, with a blastocyst development rate equal to that for maturation of intact cumulus–oocyte–complexes. In contrast, DOs matured on FL-NSN-CCs or in the absence of CCs exhibited developmental failure, with embryos arresting at either the 4-cell or morula stage. These results set a culture platform to further improve the protocols for the maturation of DOs and to unravel the molecules involved in the cross-talk between the gamete and its companion CCs during the germinal vesicle to MII transition.

scholarly journals Metabolic markers of developmental competence for in vitro-matured mouse oocytes

Reproduction ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 130 (4) ◽  
pp. 475-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly A Preis ◽  
George Seidel ◽  
David K Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Lactate Production ◽  
Glucose Consumption ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Defined Medium ◽  
Developmental Competence ◽  
Metabolic Markers ◽  
Oocyte Competence ◽  
Carbohydrate Consumption ◽  
Mouse Oocytes

In vitro maturation of oocytes has enormous potential in assisted reproductive technology, but its use has been limited due to insufficient knowledge of oocyte physiology during this dynamic period and lack of an adequate maturation system. The aim of this study was to characterize the metabolic profiles of three groups of oocytes throughout maturation: cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs), denuded oocytes, and denuded oocytes co-cultured with cumulus cells. Mouse oocytes were collected from 28-day-old unstimulated females and matured in a defined medium. Oocytes were matured individually and transferred into fresh 0.5 μl drops of medium at 4 h intervals until 16 h. Ultramicrofluorimetry was used to quantitate carbohydrate consumption from and metabolite release into the medium. Glucose consumption and lactate production of COCs increased (P < 0.001) over the maturation interval (0–16 h). Glucose consumption by COCs that subsequently fertilized was higher between 8–12 h of maturation than by COCs that did not fertilize (38 versus 29 pmol/COC per h, respectively; P < 0.01). Lactate production by COCs that subsequently fertilized was higher between 8–16 h of maturation, than by oocytes that did not fertilize (8–12 h, 66 versus 46 pmol/COC per h, P < 0.01; 12–16 h, 56 versus 40 pmol/COC per h, respectively; P < 0.05). These data indicate that the final hours of maturation may hold a unique marker of oocyte competence, as during this time fertilizable COCs take up more glucose and produce more lactate than those not subsequently fertilized.

scholarly journals Obox4-silencing-activated STAT3 and MPF/MAPK signaling accelerate nuclear membrane breakdown in mouse oocytes

Reproduction ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 151 (4) ◽  
pp. 369-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun-Seo Lee ◽  
Kyeoung-Hwa Kim ◽  
Eun-Young Kim ◽  
Su-Yeon Lee ◽  
Jung-Jae Ko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Membrane ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Germinal Vesicle ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Mapk Signaling ◽  
Interferon Α ◽  
Membrane Breakdown ◽  
Nuclear Maturation ◽  
Mouse Oocytes

Mouse oocytes begin to maturein vitroonce liberated from ovarian follicles. Previously, we showed that oocyte-specific homeobox 4 (Obox4) is critical for maintaining the intact nuclear membrane of the germinal vesicle (GV) in oocytes and for completing meiosis at the metaphase I–II (MI–MII) transition. This study further examines the molecular mechanisms of OBOX4 in regulating GV nuclear membrane breakdown. Maturation-promoting factor (MPF) and MAPK are normally inactive in GV stage oocytes but were activated prematurely in arrested GV stage oocytes by 3-isobutyl-1-metyl-xanthine (IBMX)in vitroafterObox4RNA interference (RNAi). Furthermore, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was significantly activated byObox4RNAi. We confirmed that thisObox4RNAi-induced premature STAT3 and MPF/MAPK activation at the GV stage provoked subsequent GV breakdown (GVBD) despite the opposing force of high cAMP in the IBMX-supplemented medium to maintain intact GV. When cumulus–oocyte complexes were exposed to interferon α (IFNA), a STAT3 activator, oocytes matured and cumulus cells expanded to resume nuclear maturation in IBMX-supplemented medium, suggesting that STAT3 activation is sufficient for stimulating the continuation of meiosis. Using Stattic, a specific STAT3 inhibitor, we confirmed that GVBD involves STAT3 activation inObox4-silenced oocytes. Based on these findings, we concluded that i)Obox4is an important upstream regulator of MPF/MAPK and STAT3 signaling, and ii)Obox4is a key regulator of the GV arrest mechanism in oocytes.

The effect of PD98059 on MAPK regulation in cumulus-enclosed and cumulus-free mouse oocytes

Zygote ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaroslav Kalous ◽  
Michal Kubelka ◽  
Jan Motlík
Keyword(s):  
Germinal Vesicle ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Germinal Vesicle Breakdown ◽  
Mapk Activation ◽  
Mapk Phosphorylation ◽  
Kinase Activation ◽  
Mouse Oocytes ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Epidermal Growth

The effect of the p42/44 mitogen-activated kinase (MAPK) inhibitor, PD98059, on MAPK activation and meiosis resumption in mouse oocytes was studied. When germinal vesicle (GV)-stage denuded oocytes (DOs) were cultured continuously in 50 μM PD98059, germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) was postponed for 2-3 h. MAPK phosphorylation and activation was delayed as well. However, PD98059 did not impair histone H1 kinase activation. After 14 h of culture there was no significant difference in the rate of DOs reaching metaphase II (MII) arrest in either control or experimental conditions. The effect of PD98059 on MAPK inhibition was further tested in epidermal growth factor (EGF)-treated oocyte–cumulus complexes (OCCs). Exposure of GV-stage OCCs for 5 min to EGF (10 ng/ml) induced a considerable increase in MAPK phosphorylation. After OCCs were further cultured in 50 μM PD98059 a rapid dephosphorylation of MAPK was induced. Already after 1 min of treatment the non-phosphorylated form of MAPK dominated, indicating the high effectivity of PD98059. This result indicates that short EGF/PD98059 treatment of OCCs induced MAPK phosphorylation/dephosphorylation in cumulus cells only. As only a transient delay in MAPK phosphorylation and activation was observed in PD98059-treated DOs we conclude that there is also another PD98059-nonsensitive pathway(s) leading to MAPK activation in mouse oocytes. The data obtained suggest that meiosis resumption in mouse oocytes is somehow influenced by the MEK/MAPK activation pathway.

Effects of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors on porcine oocyte meiotic maturation

Zygote ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Tao ◽  
Huirong Xie ◽  
Haiyan Hong ◽  
Xiufen Chen ◽  
Jie Jang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Dna Fragmentation ◽  
Cumulus Cell ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Meiotic Maturation ◽  
Cumulus Expansion ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Oxide Synthase ◽  
Oocyte Meiotic Maturation

As an important biological messenger, nitric oxide (NO) exhibits a wide range of effects during physiological and pathophysiological processes, including mammalian oocyte meiotic maturation. The present study investigated whether NO derived from two nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms, inducible NOS (iNOS) or endothelial NOS (eNOS), is involved in the meiotic maturation of porcine oocytes. Meanwhile, the cumulus cells' function in meiotic maturation and their interaction with oocyte development and degeneration were also investigated using cumulus-enclosed oocytes (CEOs) and denuded oocytes (DOs). Different inhibitors for NOS were supplemented to the medium. Cumulus expansion, cumulus cell DNA fragmentation and oocyte meiotic resumption were evaluated 48 h after incubation. Aminoguanidine (AG), a selective inhibitor for iNOS, suppressed cumulus expansion and inhibited CEOs to resume meiosis (p<0.05), but did not inhibit cumulus cell DNA fragmentation. Both Nω-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) and Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), inhibitors for both iNOS and eNOS, delayed cumulus expansion, inhibited cumulus cell DNA fragmentation and inhibited CEOs to resume meiosis. Such effects were not seen in DOs. These results indicate that iNOS-derived NO is necessary for cumulus expansion and meiotic maturation by mediating the function of the surrounding cumulus cells, and eNOS-derived NO is also involved in porcine meiotic maturation.

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