229 EXPRESSION OF mRNA ENCODING GLYCOLYTIC ENZYMES IN BOVINE CUMULUS CELLS DURING IN VITRO MATURATION: EFFECTS OF TIME AND FSH

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 272
Author(s):  
E. S. Caixeta ◽  
P. Ripamonte ◽  
M. F. Machado ◽  
R. B. da Silva ◽  
C. Price ◽  
...  

Mammalian oocytes require pyruvate as an energy source for growth and resumption of meiosis. Because oocytes are not competent to carry out glycolysis, cumulus cells (CC) are responsible for metabolizing glucose into pyruvate and providing it to the oocyte through gap junctions. The understanding of the energetic metabolism of CC in culture conditions might provide basis for the improvement of COC in vitro maturation. The aim of this study was to determine the temporal patterns of mRNA expression of glycolytic enzymes [phosphofructokinase (PFKP), aldolase (ALDOA), triosephosphate isomerase (TPI), enolase (ENO1), pyruvate kinase (PKM2), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDHA)] in bovine CC during COC in vitro maturation with or without FSH. Immature COC (grades 1 and 2) were obtained from 2- to 8-mm follicles from abattoir ovaries (predominantly Bos indicus). Cumulus cells were separated from COC and frozen before (immature group) or after COC culture for 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 hours with (10 ng/mL) or without FSH. Total RNA was extracted using RNeasy® (Qiagen, Valencia, CA, USA), and 100 ng of RNA was reverse transcribed using oligo dT primers and Omniscript® (Qiagen). Relative expression of target genes was assessed by real-time PCR using bovine-specific primers and Power SYBR green master mix in an ABI Prism® 7300. To select the most stable housekeeping gene for expression normalization, cyclophilin-A (CYC-A), GAPDH, and histone H2AFZ amplification profiles were compared using the geNorm applet for Microsoft Excel (Vandesompele J et al. 2002 Genome Biol. 3, 1-11); the most stable housekeeping gene was CYC-A. Relative expression values were calculated using the AACt method with efficiency correction (Pfaffl MW 2001 Nucleic Acids Res. 29, 2002-2007). Effects of time in culture and of FSH treatment were tested by ANOVA, and groups were compared by Tukey-Kramer Honestly Significant Difference test. Nonparametric analysis was used when data were not normally distributed. Abundance of mRNA of all glycolytic enzymes decreased during in vitro maturation with or without FSH. Expression of PFKP, ALDOA, TPI1, ENO1, and LDHA genes was decreased to around half of the initial value (time 0) by 4 to 8 h of culture (P < 0.05) and did not increase thereafter. A similar expression pattern was observed for PKM2, although mRNA abundance was reduced later in comparison with other enzymes; levels were decreased by 16 (without FSH) to 20 h (with FSH) of culture. The presence of FSH did not alter the overall temporal pattern of gene expression but decreased mRNA abundance for PFKP, ALDOA, and TPI1 at 20, 16 and 16 h of culture, respectively. In conclusion, gene expression of glycolytic enzymes decreased with time during COC in vitro maturation in cattle, and FSH did not have a major influence on this expression pattern. This study was supported by CAPES and FAPESP.

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 222
Author(s):  
E. S. Caixeta ◽  
M. F. Machado ◽  
P. Ripamonte ◽  
P. F. Lima ◽  
A. C. S. Castilho ◽  
...  

Epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like family members [amphiregulin (AREG), epiregulin (EREG), and betacellulin (BTC)] have been shown to be important regulators of cumulus–oocyte complex (COC) maturation, particularly cumulus expansion. The aim of this study was to determine the temporal expression patterns of mRNA encoding EGF-like growth factors in bovine cumulus cells (CC) during COC in vitro maturation and to assess the effects of grading doses of FSH on EGF-like mRNA expression in CC. Immature COC (grades 1 and 2) were obtained from 2- to 8-mm follicles from abattoir ovaries. In the first experiment, CC were separated from 20 COC and frozen before (immature group) or after COC culture for 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 h with (10 ng mL–1) or without FSH. In the second experiment, pools containing 20 COC were matured for 12 h with grading doses of FSH (0, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 ng mL–1). After culture, CC were mechanically separated and stored at –80°C. Total RNA was extracted using RNeasy® (Qiagen, Valencia, CA, USA), and 100 ng of RNA was reverse transcribed. Expression of target genes was assessed by real-time PCR and normalized by Cyclophilin (CYC-A). Relative quantification of mRNA abundance was determined by the Pfaffl equation. Effects of time of culture and FSH treatment were tested by ANOVA, and groups were compared by Tukey-Kramer honestly significant difference test. Nonparametric analysis was used when data were not normally distributed. Differences were considered significant when P < 0.05. In the presence of FSH, AREG and EREG mRNA abundance was increased at 4 h of culture, whereas in the absence of FSH, AREG but not EREG mRNA levels were increased by 4 h of culture. The addition of FSH stimulated AREG mRNA expression from 4 to 16 h of culture. In contrast, BTC mRNA was more expressed in immature CC, decreased after 4 h of culture with FSH, and did not vary during maturation in the absence of FSH. In the dose–response experiment, AREG and EREG mRNA expression was stimulated by FSH starting from 10 ng mL–1 and did not increase from 10 ng mL–1 to 100 ng mL–1. Again in contrast, BTC mRNA expression was inhibited by FSH at 100 ng mL–1. In conclusion, the present data suggest that FSH differently regulates the expression of EGF-like factors during bovine COC maturation, although AREG and EREG are stimulated, BTC is inhibited by FSH. This work was supported by FAPESP.


2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 270
Author(s):  
C. Hanna ◽  
C. Long ◽  
M. Westhusin ◽  
D. Kraemer

The objectives of this study were to determine whether the percentage of canine oocytes that resume meiosis during in vitro maturation could be increased by either increasing culture duration or by removing approximately one-half of the cumulus cells 24 h after oocytes were placed into culture. Canine female reproductive tracts were collected from a local clinic and ovaries were minced in warm TL-HEPES. Oocytes with a consistently dark ooplasm and at least two layers of cumulus cells were selected, cultured in a basic canine oocyte in vitro maturation medium consisting of TCM-199 with Earl's salts, 2.92 mM Ca-lactate, 20 mM pyruvic acid, 4.43 mM HEPES, 10% fetal calf serum, 1% Penicillin/Streptomycin (GibcoBRL, Grand Island, NY, USA), and 5 μg/mL porcine somatotropin, and incubated at 38.5°C in 5% CO2 in humidified air. Treatment groups were randomly assigned and oocytes were cultured for 60, 84, or 132 h (Basic). From each of these groups, one-half of the oocytes were pipetted through a fine bore pipette to partially remove the cumulus cells 24 h after the start of culture (Basic–1/2). At the end of culture, all oocytes were denuded and the nuclear status was observed with Hoechst 33342 under ultraviolet fluorescence. All data were analyzed by ANOVA with P < 0.05. Since the canine oocyte is ovulated at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage of meiosis and requires up to five days to mature in the oviduct, it was hypothesized that an increased culture time would allow for more oocytes to undergo nuclear maturation to metaphase II (MII). It was also hypothesized that partial removal of cumulus cells would decrease the cumulus cell component in the ooplasm that sustains meiotic arrest, allowing for more oocytes to resume meiosis (RM = germinal vesicle breakdown to MII). Results within each treatment group indicate that there is no significant difference between culture duration and the percent of oocytes that mature to MII. Additionally, there was no significance in the percent of oocytes that resumed meiosis after partial cumulus cell removal. Taken together, these data suggest that neither treatment is effective in canine in vitro maturation systems, given the current maturation culture conditions. Table 1. Nuclear status* of oocytes for three time periods with or without partial cumulus cell removal


2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 226
Author(s):  
F. C. Castro ◽  
L. Schefer ◽  
K. L. Schwarz ◽  
H. Fernandes ◽  
R. C. Botigelli ◽  
...  

Melatonin mediates several processes in animal reproduction and has drawn attention for its potent antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory action and, more recently, for its benefits on oocyte maturation and embryo development in vitro. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of melatonin during the in vitro maturation (IVM) on nuclear maturation of bovine oocytes and gene expression in their corresponding cumulus cells (CC). Bovine cumulus–oocyte complexes (COC) were obtained by aspiration of follicles (2-6 mm) from slaughterhouse ovaries, selected (grades I and II) and transferred to 4 well plates (25-30 COC/well) containing IVM medium [TCM-199 supplemented with sodium bicarbonate (26 mM), sodium pyruvate (0.25 mM), FSH (0.5 µg mL−1), LH (5.0 µg mL−1), 0.3% BSA, and gentamicin (50 µg mL−1)] with 0, 10−5, 10−7, 10−9 or 10−11 M melatonin and cultured for 24 h at 38.5°C and 5% CO2. At the end of IVM, oocytes were stained with Hoechst 33342 (10 μg mL−1) and evaluated for nuclear maturation rate. The CC were evaluated for the expression of antioxidant (SOD1, SOD2, GPX4), pro-apoptotic (P53, BAX) and expansion-related genes (PTX3, HAS1, HAS2). For transcript detection in CC, RNA isolation was performed with TRIzol®Reagent (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA) and reverse transcription with High Capacity cDNA Reverse Transcription kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). Relative quantification of transcripts was performed by RT-qPCR using 3 endogenous controls (β-actin, GAPDH, PPIA). Nuclear maturation rate and gene expression were tested by ANOVA and means were compared by Tukey’s test (6 replicates). In CC, the different concentrations of melatonin did not significantly alter expression of the investigated genes (P > 0.05), although all concentrations provided a numerical increase in the expression of the antioxidant SOD1 and of the expansion-related genes PTX3 and HAS2. Regarding the pro-apoptotic genes, concentrations of 10−11 and 10−9 M were able to reduce only numerically the expression of BAX and P53, respectively. In oocytes, the rate of nuclear maturation was not different among the tested treatments (P > 0.05), but it was numerically higher in the 10−7 M melatonin treated group compared with the control (69.71 ± 13.76% v. 88.1 ± 12.54%). In conclusion, under the studied conditions, melatonin was unable to improve maturation rate or to affect the expression of antioxidant, pro-apoptotic, and expansion-related genes in CC. Melatonin during IVM has shown variable results in different studies and appears to show different effects depending on culture conditions and parameters studied. In order to take advantage of the possible positive antioxidant effects of melatonin, other culture conditions and parameters should be investigated. In a next step, melatonin will be included during in vitro culture of embryos to evaluate its possible cytoprotective role, because such embryos are more exposed to oxidative stress during in vitro culture, and to investigate its benefits on developmental competence in vitro. This reaesrch was funded by FAPESP (2015/20379-0; 2014/17181-0).


Author(s):  
Adek Amansyah

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the number of LH receptor and the success of oocyte maturity in the process of in vitro maturation (IVM). Method: This experimental study was conducted in the Permata Hati Infertility Clinical Laboratory, Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Yogyakarta, with the samples of 300 oocytes obtained through collecting immature cow’s oocytes from the abattoir and grouped the oocytes into 3 (three) groups based on the pattern of oocyte cumulus cells on the vesicle germinal stage 2 - 8 mm with three layers of cumulus cell. The sample of the cumulus cells from these three groups were taken and the LH receptor examination was done with immunohistochemistry. After that, the IVM process was performed to the three groups and its development for 24 hours was evaluated. Its maturation quality was evaluated with the emergence of the first polar body (1PB) and compared to the other groups and related to the number of LH receptor in the three groups. Result: The result of this study indicated that the oocyte cumulus cells showed a difference of function during IVM process. The maturity rate in this study showed that the number of LH receptor was related to the morphological pattern of oocyte cumulus cells with oocyte maturity. The maturity of the cumulus cells which 100% covered the oocyte was higher than that of the cumulus cells which > 50% and < 30% covered the oocytes, namely, 74% compared to 60% and 12%. The result of this study also showed that the average number of LH receptors in the three groups (A, B, and C) was 183.4, 78.8, and 24.0 respectively. A significant difference was found in the three groups (p < 0.0001). When related to IVM maturity, this difference showed that the bigger number of oocyte cumulus cells influenced the oocyte maturity. Conclusion: The number of LH receptor can be used as a prediction to determine the success of oocyte maturation in the process of in vitro maturation. [Indones J Obstet Gynecol 2013; 1-4:183-7] Keywords: IVM, LH receptor, oocyte cumulus cell


2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 224 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. C. Curnow ◽  
J. P. Ryan ◽  
D. M. Saunders ◽  
E. S. Hayes

During oocyte growth chromatin configuration of the germinal vesicle (GV) oocyte undergoes modification in relation to changes in transcriptional activity crucial for conferring meiotic as well as developmental competence on the oocyte. In the macaque oocyte, there are 3 distinct GV states: GV1, noncondensed chromatin; GV2, an intermediate state; and GV3, condensed chromatin. The aim of this study was to test the effects of a prematuration culture (PMC) system, using the phosphodiesterase type 3 inhibitor milrinone (MIL), on the synchronization of GV chromatin to the GV3 stage and assess metaphase II (MII) oocyte reduced glutathione (GSH) content as a measure of cytoplasmic maturation. Reagents were purchased from Sigma (St. Louis, MO, USA) unless stated otherwise. To assess the effect of PMC on GV chromatin status, immature oocytes retrieved from unstimulated ovaries were either fixed (2% paraformaldehyde+0.1% Triton-X100) immediately after follicular aspiration (t = 0) or after culture in a humidified atmosphere of 6% CO2 in air at 37°C for 24 h in modified Connaught Medical Research Laboratories medium (mCMRL) supplemented with 10% FCS (Hyclone, Logan, UT, USA) and 12.5 μM MIL in the absence (MILNil) or presence of 1.0 IU of FSH (MILFSH). For chromatin assessment, fixed GV oocytes were stained with 5 μg mL–1 of 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (Molecular Probes, Leiden, the Netherlands) and imaged using confocal microscopy. Following PMC, MILFSH oocytes were transferred to fresh mCMRL+FCS supplemented with 1.0 IU of recombinant human FSH and 1.0 IU of hLH and cultured for a further 30 h. Control and MILFSH oocytes were denuded of cumulus cells and assessed for maturation. The MII oocytes were prepared for GSH analysis, and total GSH content was determined using a commercial 5,5′-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB)-GSH reductase recycling assay kit (North-West Life Science). The MII rates were compared using chi-square. Differences in oocyte GSH content were compared using t-test. Significant differences were determined at P < 0.05. There was no significant difference in the proportion of oocytes remaining at the GV stage following 24 h of PMC in MILNil or MILFSH (42/44, 96% v. 32/35, 91%, respectively). However, there was a significant reduction in GV1 chromatin (15/49, 31% v. 28/54, 52% and 22/58, 38%) and a significant increase in GV3 chromatin (23/49, 47% v. 14/54, 26% and 16/58, 28%) observed in MILFSH oocytes compared with both MILNil and t = 0 oocytes, respectively. The MII rate of MILFSH oocytes following in vitro maturation was significantly higher compared with the MII rate of control in vitro matured oocytes (91/167, 55% v. 83/243, 34%). There was no significant difference in the GSH content of GV oocytes from the time of oocyte collection (t = 0) or GV oocytes following PMC in MILFSH (3.69 ± 0.16 and 4.14 ± 0.28 pmol/oocyte, n = 39–49 oocytes). The GSH content of control in vitro matured MII oocytes was significantly greater than that of MILFSH-treated MII oocytes (3.13 ± 0.16 v. 2.02 ± 0.04 pmol/oocyte, n =53–54 oocytes). The PMC supported high rates of nuclear maturation, but cytoplasmic maturation, assessed by GSH content, was negatively affected. Further assessment following fertilization and development is required to determine the practical utility of PMC in a primate in vitro maturation setting.


2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 1323-1329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabete T. Gomes ◽  
Joana Amélia S. Costa ◽  
Diogo Manoel F. Silva ◽  
Wasim Al Shebli ◽  
Marina L. Azevedo ◽  
...  

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 171
Author(s):  
E. Monaco ◽  
A. Lima ◽  
S. Wilson ◽  
D. Kim ◽  
M. Bionaz ◽  
...  

Osteopontin (OPN) is an acidic single-chain phosphorylated glycoprotein found in both the female and the male reproductive tract that is believed to facilitate reproduction. It was recently reported in swine that OPN improves in vitro fertilization (Hao et al. 2006 Biol. Reprod. 75, 726–733). In bovine, OPN improves the efficiency of in vitro embryo production, and it has been detected on the zona pellucida (ZP) of immature and mature oocytes (Monaco et al. 2007 J. Anim. Sci. 85, 529 abst). This study was designed to evaluate the gene expression of OPN (SPP1) in immature and mature swine cumulus cells and oocytes. Ovaries from a local slaughterhouse were collected on three different days. Half of the immature cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) from each day were vortexed in 1 mL TCM-199 HEPES containing 10 mg mL–1 hyaluronidase to separate immature cumulus cells, while the other half of the COCs were maturated for 40-42 h and then the cumulus cells were separated. RNA from cumulus cells and oocytes was extracted and genomic DNA was removed by DNase treatment. cDNA was synthesized using 100 ng of RNA and diluted 50% with DNase–RNase-free water. The RT-PCR product from cumulus cells and oocytes was run in a 2% agarose gel stained with ethidium bromide to verify the presence of SPP1. Relative mRNA abundance between immature and mature cumulus cells was assessed by SYBR green real-time RT–PCR run in triplicate using a 6-point twofold dilution standard curve. GAPDH was used as internal control. Primers for SPP1 and GAPDH were designed spanning an exon/exon junction. The presence of a single and specific PCR product was assessed by gel electrophoresis (a single band was expected at 100 and 90 bp, respectively, for SPP1 and GAPDH), dissociation curve, and sequencing. A t-test was used to assess differences between immature (n = 3) and mature (n = 3) cumulus cells. SPP1 was detected in agarose gel in both immature and mature oocytes and cumulus cells. Cumulus cells presented a Ct for SPP1 ranging from 20 (immature) to 29 (mature). Immature cumulus cells showed a 32-fold larger mRNA abundance compared to the mature cumulus cells (P < 0.05) when data were transformed using a standard curve. Results showed expression of SPP1 in porcine oocytes and cumulus cells. However, maturation significantly decreased the expression of SPP1 in cumulus cells. The presence of SPP1 mRNA in oocytes and cumulus cells and the larger mRNA abundance before maturation may suggest a role of this protein prior to maturation of oocytes. Additional studies will be required to determine the specific role of SPP1 in oocyte maturation in the pig.


2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 39
Author(s):  
K. Tam ◽  
K. Banwell ◽  
D. Froiland ◽  
D. Russell ◽  
K. Kind ◽  
...  

Hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) are heterodimeric transcription factors that mediate the expression of a range of genes in response to low oxygen. Previously we showed that subsequent developmental outcomes were influenced by oxygen levels during in vitro maturation. The aim of the current study was to examine the effects of varying oxygen concentration during in vitro maturation of mouse COCs on expression of HIF target genes in the cumulus cells. I mmature COCs were collected from the ovaries of eCG-stimulated CBAB6F1 females (21 d) and cultured for 17-18 h under 2, 5 or 20% O2. Hyaluronidase-treated and recovered cumulus cells were collected and mRNA extracted for analysis. A microarray approach (Affymetrix 430_2) was used to identify genes in cumulus cells that were differentially expressed under varying oxygen concentrations (2, 5, 10 and 20%). This revealed 218 differentially expressed probes, of which 34 were up-regulated with decreasing oxygen levels. The great majority of these were classified as HIF-regulated genes. Specific analysis from real time RT-PCR of HIF regulated target genes Slc2a1, Ldha, Pgk1, Eno1, Ndrg1, Bnip3 were all significantly up-regulated (by at least 5–fold) when cells were cultured at 2% or 5% oxygen, when compared to 20% oxygen. Hif-1a mRNA decreased when cumulus cells were cultured in 2%, compared to 20% oxygen. This study demonstrates that cumulus cell gene expression is influenced by oxygen concentration, and suggests that these effects are mediated by the HIF transcription factors.


Author(s):  
N. Mahanta ◽  
D. Bhuyan ◽  
Suresh Kumar ◽  
R. K. Biswas ◽  
D. J. Dutta ◽  
...  

The present study was aimed to evaluate the beneficial effect of different growth factors on in-vitro maturation of porcine oocytes. Ovaries were collected from a local abattoir immediately after slaughter of the animals and transported to the laboratory. A total of 618 type A and type B oocytes were cultured in TCM-199 containing additives with PMSG and hCG for the first 22 hrs and without hormones for subsequent 22 hrs of incubation at 39o C under 5 per cent CO2 level and 90-95 per cent humidity. The effects of supplementation of different growth factors viz., EGF, IGF-I and EGF + IGF-I in the medium were studied. The rate of oocytes with cumulus cells expansion was significantly higher (P less than 0.01) when growth factors were added as compared to control but it did not differ significantly between growth factors. The rate of nuclear maturation of oocytes was significantly higher (P less than 0.01) as compare to control for EGF and EGF + IGF-I but not for IGF-I. There was no significant difference in the rate of oocytes with nuclear maturation between the growth factors studied. It can be concluded from the present study that addition of EGF, IGF-I or EGF + IGF and additives along with hormones (PMSG and hCG for first 20-22 hrs) in TCM-199 Medium gives optimum in-vitro maturation rates in porcine oocytes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 207
Author(s):  
M. Markle ◽  
C. K. Mak ◽  
V. Medina ◽  
C. R. F. Pinto

The current study investigated the in vitro meiotic competence of ovine and caprine oocytes that underwent nuclear maturation during the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. We hypothesised that maturation rates of ovine and caprine oocyte would be significantly lower during the nonbreeding season. Ovine (Katahdin crossbred) and caprine (mainly Spanish crossbred) ovaries were collected from a local abattoir in the southern United States. Age of the animals was not determined. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were harvested by slicing the ovaries and searching using a stereomicroscope. Oocytes with more than 3 layers of unexpanded cumulus cells and with evenly granulated cytoplasm were selected for in vitro maturation (IVM). A commercial bovine IVM media (IVF Bioscience, Falmouth, United Kingdom) was used throughout the study. After 24h of IVM, ovine and caprine oocytes were denuded and oocytes with an extruded polar body (meiotic metaphase II oocytes) were considered to have reached nuclear maturation. The seasons in this study were defined as follows: breeding season=September to April and nonbreeding season=May to July. The presence of corpus hemorrhagicum or corpus luteum in at least 70% of the ovaries indicated the breeding season for the animals. Proportions of oocytes undergoing nuclear maturation were analysed using a two-tailed Chi-squared test. Statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. The ovine maturation rate was 59% (65/111) and 49% (254/519) and the caprine maturation rate was 70% (39/56) and 40% (64/162) during the breeding and nonbreeding seasons, respectively. These results show a significant difference in nuclear maturation for caprine oocytes (P&lt;0.001) during the breeding and nonbreeding seasons; however, there was no significant difference in nuclear maturation for ovine oocytes (P=0.06) during the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. High environmental temperatures during the nonbreeding season may have had detrimental effects on oocyte nuclear maturation in caprine but not in ovine oocytes. Why oocytes from these 2 species differ on how they are adversely affected by season remains to be elucidated.


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