scholarly journals Immunohistochemical localization of inhibin/activin alpha, betaA and betaB subunits and follistatin in bovine oocytes during in vitro maturation and fertilization

Reproduction ◽  
2003 ◽  
pp. 33-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
CC Silva ◽  
NP Groome ◽  
PG Knight
Keyword(s):  
Oocyte Maturation ◽  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Immunohistochemical Localization ◽  
Intense Staining ◽  
Immature Oocytes ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Alpha Beta ◽  
Quantitative Changes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of inhibin/activin alpha, beta(A) and beta(B) subunits and follistatin in immature oocytes and in matured oocytes before and after IVF. Denuded oocytes were submitted to a whole-mount immunofluorescence procedure. Specimens were imaged and fluorescent intensities quantified by scanning laser confocal microscopy. Immunoreactivity for inhibin alpha subunit (both alpha(C) and pro-alpha regions), abundant in the ooplasm of immature oocytes, decreased after maturation (a 68% and 88% decrease, respectively; P < 0.001), but increased after IVF by 2- and 5.7-fold, respectively (P < 0.01). Intense staining for beta(A) was detected in immature oocytes (predominantly in the outer ooplasm and zona pellucida) but after maturation and fertilization it was localized mainly in the zona pellucida, perivitelline space and oolemma. Immunoreactivity for beta(A) in the ooplasm decreased by 58% after maturation (P < 0.001) but increased again by 75% after fertilization (P < 0.01). Immunoreactivity for beta(B) was localized mainly in the zona pellucida and did not change after maturation. However, immunoreactivity for beta(B) was not detected in the zona pellucida after fertilization, but remained unchanged in unfertilized oocytes. Immunoreactivity for follistatin was detected in the ooplasm and zona pellucida of immature oocytes but decreased progressively in the ooplasm after maturation (a 63% decrease; P < 0.001) and did not change after IVF. Examination of partially denuded cumulus-oocyte complexes confirmed abundant expression of alpha(C), pro-alpha, beta(A) and follistatin immunoreactivity in cumulus cells, whereas beta(B) subunit staining was weak or absent in cumulus cells, but intense in the zona pellucida. In conclusion, the present study shows that qualitative and quantitative changes in the distribution of inhibin/activin subunits and follistatin accompany oocyte maturation and fertilization. The possibility, indicated by these observations, that activin A and activin B may play distinct roles in bovine oocyte maturation and fertilization warrants further study.

scholarly journals Fatty Acid Synthesis and Oxidation in Cumulus Cells Support Oocyte Maturation in Bovine

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (9) ◽  
pp. 1502-1521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Sanchez-Lazo ◽  
Daphné Brisard ◽  
Sébastien Elis ◽  
Virginie Maillard ◽  
Rustem Uzbekov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Oocyte Maturation ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Meiotic Maturation ◽  
Germinal Vesicle Breakdown ◽  
Mitochondrial Fatty Acid ◽  
Before And After

Oocyte meiotic maturation requires energy from various substrates including glucose, amino acids, and lipids. Mitochondrial fatty acid (FA) β-oxidation (FAO) in the oocyte is required for meiotic maturation, which is accompanied by differential expression of numerous genes involved in FAs metabolism in surrounding cumulus cells (CCs) in vivo. The objective was to elucidate components involved in FAs metabolism in CCs during oocyte maturation. Twenty-seven genes related to lipogenesis, lipolysis, FA transport, and FAO were chosen from comparative transcriptome analysis of bovine CCs before and after maturation in vivo. Using real-time PCR, 22 were significantly upregulated at different times of in vitro maturation (IVM) in relation to oocyte meiosis progression from germinal vesicle breakdown to metaphase-II. Proteins FA synthase, acetyl-coenzyme-A carboxylase, carnitine palmitoyltransferase, perilipin 2, and FA binding protein 3 were detected by Western blot and immunolocalized to CCs and oocyte cytoplasm, with FA binding protein 3 concentrated around oocyte chromatin. By mass spectrometry, CCs lipid profiling was shown to be different before and after IVM. FAO inhibitors etomoxir and mildronate dose-dependently decreased the oocyte maturation rate in vitro. In terms of viability, cumulus enclosed oocytes were more sensitive to etomoxir than denuded oocytes. In CCs, etomoxir (150μM) led to downregulation of lipogenesis genes and upregulated lipolysis and FAO genes. Moreover, the number of lipid droplets decreased, whereas several lipid species were more abundant compared with nontreated CCs after IVM. In conclusion, FAs metabolism in CCs is important to maintain metabolic homeostasis and may influence meiosis progression and survival of enclosed oocytes.

scholarly journals Expression and cellular distribution of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4) and connexin 43 (Cx43) in porcine oocytes before and after in vitro maturation

2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bartosz Kempisty ◽  
Agnieszka Ziółkowska ◽  
Hanna Piotrowska ◽  
Paweł Antosik ◽  
Dorota Bukowska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Expression ◽  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Oocyte Maturation ◽  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Connexin 43 ◽  
Cumulus Cell ◽  
Cyclin Dependent Kinase ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Cx43 Mrna

It is recognised that connexin 43 (Cx43) and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4) are involved in the cumulus cell-oocyte communication via gap junctions and the control of cell cycle progress. However, little is known about their mRNA expression pattern and encoded proteins distribution in porcine oocytes during in vitro maturation (IVM). Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were collected from 31 puberal crossbred Landrace gilts and analysed for their Cdk4 and Cx43 mRNA expression using RQ-PCR and for the respective protein expression by confocal microscopic observations. An increased Cdk4 and Cx43 mRNA expression was found in oocytes after IVM (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively). Confocal microscopic observations revealed a significant increase of Cdk4 protein expression in the cytoplasm of oocytes during the maturation process. The localisation of Cx43 changed from zona pellucida before to cytoplasm of oocytes after IVM. It is supposed that the increased expression of Cdk4 and Cx43 mRNA in oocytes after IVM is linked with the accumulation of a large amount of templates during the process of oocyte maturation. The translocation especially of Cx43 from the zona pellucida into the cytoplasm may be associated with a decrease in gap junction activity in fully grown porcine oocytes. Both Cdk4 and Cx43 can be used as ‘checkpoints’ of oocyte maturation.

274 LIPOLYSIS IN CUMULUS CELLS ACCOMPANIES OOCYTE MATURATION IN BOVINE

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 226 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Uzbekova ◽  
L. Sanchez-Lazo ◽  
A. Desmachais ◽  
V. Maillard ◽  
S. Elis
Keyword(s):  
Oocyte Maturation ◽  
Energy Homeostasis ◽  
Binding Proteins ◽  
Germinal Vesicle ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Developmental Competence ◽  
Hormone Sensitive Lipase ◽  
Germinal Vesicle Breakdown ◽  
Immature Oocytes

Oocyte maturation relies on energy from different nutrients, including fatty acids (FA). Cumulus cells (CC) are metabolically coupled with enclosed oocyte and active FA metabolism occurs in both compartments. Excess of lipids in oocyte environment alters its developmental competence. Lipid droplets (LD), mainly composed of triacylglycerides (TG), are formed inside of CC and in oocyte to store lipids. Liberation of free FA from TG requires lipolysis, which is catalyzed by lipases and involves FA-binding proteins (FABP) and perilipins (PLIN), which interact at the surface of LD as shown in lipogenic tissues. The objective was to elucidate the main factors involved in lipolysis in bovine cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) during oocyte maturation. Gene expression before and after maturation was analysed in CC by microarray hybridization and validated by real time RT-PCR; proteins were detected by Western blot and immunofluorescence. For statistics, ANOVA and Mann-Whitney (M-W) tests were used. In CC, adipose triglyceride lipase PNPLA2, lipoprotein lipase LPL, and monoacylglycerol lipase ABHD6 showed the highest mRNA expression level among 7 detected lipases. Both PLIN5 and PLIN2 were the most abundant perilipins, and among 8 FA-binding proteins, FABP3 and FABP5 were predominant. During in vitro maturation (IVM), expression of most of these genes increased at 6 h of IVM (P < 0.05, ANOVA) in CC. At that time, germinal vesicle breakdown occurred in enclosed oocytes and hyaluronan synthase HAS2, involved in the extra-cellular matrix formation, was upregulated in CC. The most upregulated genes after 18 h of IVM in CC were ABDH6 (48.5-fold as compared to immature, P < 0.01, M-W), FABP3 (16.6-fold, P < 0.01, M-W), and PLIN2 (5.5-fold, P < 0.05, M-W). Expression of all of these lipolysis-related genes was also detected in the oocytes. At the protein level, PLIN2 was mainly localised in the cytoplasmic LD, both in CC and in the oocyte. In CC, FABP3 was detected in the cytoplasm, whereas in oocyte it was also localised to the germinal vesicle of immature oocytes and closely to the chromosomes during the first meiotic division. In addition, active phosphorylated hormone sensitive lipase HSL was always detected in CC and in mature oocytes, but not in immature oocytes. All these data demonstrate that lipolysis occurs both in CC and in the oocyte during maturation. Lipolysis may be necessary to maintain cell energy homeostasis by regulating intracellular concentration of free FA. Moreover, CC were already described to store the excess FA from follicular fluid in order to protect the oocyte. Our data corroborate the essential role of CC in oocyte survival through controlling FA metabolism inside the COC. Active lipolysis may therefore be required to reduce lipid storages as well as to produce energy necessary for oocyte meiosis progression and extracellular matrix secretion by CC in order to prepare COC for further fertilization.This work was supported by INRA, ANR (OSCILE project) and European subvention FP7-KBBE-2012–6 (FECUND project).

Influence of seminal plasma PSP-I/PSP-II spermadhesin on pig gamete interaction

Zygote ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ignacio Caballero ◽  
Juan M. Vázquez ◽  
Heriberto Rodríguez-Martínez ◽  
Maria A. Gil ◽  
Juan J. Calvete ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oocyte Maturation ◽  
Seminal Plasma ◽  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Blocking Effect ◽  
Gamete Interaction ◽  
Sperm Penetration ◽  
Boar Spermatozoa ◽  
Damaging Effects

The seminal plasma PSP-I/PSP-II spermadhesin is able to preserve, in vitro, the viability of highly extended boar spermatozoa, suggesting it might be used as a suitable ameliorator for the damaging effects of sperm handling, including in vitro fertilization. However, little is known about the ligand capability of PSP-I/PSP-II as regards the zona pellucida (ZP) or its possible role in gamete interaction. The present study evaluated the effect of the presence of PSP-I/PSP-II (1.5 mg/ml) during in vitro oocyte maturation and also during co-incubation of frozen-thawed boar spermatozoa with either immature (IM) or in vitro matured (IVM) oocytes, either enclosed by cumulus cells or denuded. Exposure of the gametes to the heterodimer during in vitro gamete co-incubation showed a significant blocking effect of sperm penetration rates and a decreased number of spermatozoa per oocyte in both IM and IVM denuded oocytes. Such an effect was not present in cumulus-enclosed oocytes, suggesting the effect could be mediated by exposed ZP receptors. In addition, when PSP-I/PSP-II was added to the IVM medium, oocyte maturation rates were significantly reduced. In conclusion, the results suggest that PSP-I/PSP-II, when present in vitro, blocks sperm–ZP binding.

scholarly journals Genes of cellular components of morphogenesis in porcine oocytes before and after IVM

Reproduction ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 154 (4) ◽  
pp. 535-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Budna ◽  
Artur Bryja ◽  
Piotr Celichowski ◽  
Rotem Kahan ◽  
Wiesława Kranc ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oocyte Maturation ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Cellular Migration ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Cresyl Blue ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Developmental Capacity ◽  
Cellular Modifications ◽  
Cellular Components

Proper oocyte maturation in mammals produces an oocyte capable of monospermic fertilization and embryo preimplantation. The cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), surrounding an oocyte, play a significant role in oocyte maturation. During this process, when the COCs undergo cumulus expansion wherein tightly compact cumulus cells (CCs) form a dispersed structure, permanent biochemical and molecular modifications occur in the maturing oocytes, indicating that the gene expression between immature and mature oocytes differs significantly. This study focuses on the genes responsible for the cellular components of morphogenesis within the developing oocyte. Brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) was used to determine the developmental capability of porcine oocytes. The immature oocytes (GV stage) were compared with matured oocytes (MII stage), using microarray and qRT-PCR analysis to track changes in the genetic expression profile of transcriptome genes. The data showed substantial upregulation of genes influencing oocyte’s morphology, cellular migration and adhesion, intracellular communication, as well as plasticity of nervous system. Conversely, downregulation involved genes related to microtubule reorganization, regulation of adhesion, proliferation, migration and cell differentiation processes in oocytes. This suggests that most genes recruited in morphogenesis in porcine oocytein vitro,may have cellular maturational capability, since they have a higher level of expression before the oocyte’s matured form. It shows the process of oocyte maturation and developmental capacity is orchestrated by significant cellular modifications during morphogenesis.

The regulatory role of miR-20a in bovine cumulus cells and its contribution to oocyte maturation

Zygote ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Eryk Andreas ◽  
Hari Om Pandey ◽  
Michael Hoelker ◽  
Dessie Salilew-Wondim ◽  
Samuel Gebremedhn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oocyte Maturation ◽  
Cumulus Cell ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Maturation Process ◽  
Progesterone Synthesis ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Maturation Rate ◽  
Transcriptional Gene Regulation

Summary Dynamic changes in microRNAs in oocyte and cumulus cells before and after maturation may explain the spatiotemporal post-transcriptional gene regulation within bovine follicular cells during the oocyte maturation process. miR-20a has been previously shown to regulate proliferation and differentiation as well as progesterone levels in cultured bovine granulosa cells. In the present study, we aimed to demonstrate the function of miR-20a during the bovine oocyte maturation process. Maturation of cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) was performed at 39°C in an humidified atmosphere with 5% CO2 in air. The expression of miR-20a was investigated in the cumulus cells and oocytes at 22 h post culture. The functional role of miR-20a was examined by modulating the expression of miR-20a in COCs during in vitro maturation (IVM). We found that the miR-20a expression was increased in cumulus cells but decreased in oocytes after IVM. Overexpression of miR-20a increased the oocyte maturation rate. Even though not statistically significant, miR-20a overexpression during IVM increased progesterone levels in the spent medium. This was further supported by the expression of STAR and CYP11A1 genes in cumulus cells. The phenotypes observed due to overexpression of miR-20a were validated by BMP15 supplementation during IVM and subsequent transfection of BMP15-treated COCs using miR-20a mimic or BMPR2 siRNA. We found that miR-20a mimic or BMPR2 siRNA transfection rescued BMP15-reduced oocyte maturation and progesterone levels. We concluded that miR-20a regulates oocyte maturation by increasing cumulus cell progesterone synthesis by simultaneous suppression of BMPR2 expression.

Effect of ornidazole on fertility of male rats: inhibition of a glycolysis-related motility pattern and zona binding required for fertilization in vitro

Reproduction ◽  
2000 ◽  
pp. 127-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
W Bone ◽  
NG Jones ◽  
G Kamp ◽  
CH Yeung ◽  
TG Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Glucose Utilization ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Glycolytic Enzyme ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Fertilization In Vitro ◽  
Swimming Pattern ◽  
Principal Piece ◽  
Free Media

The effects of the male antifertility agent ornidazole on glycolysis as a prerequisite for fertilization were investigated in rats. Antifertility doses of ornidazole inhibited glycolysis within mature spermatozoa as determined from the lack of glucose utilization, reduced acidosis under anaerobic conditions and reduced glycolytic enzyme activity. As a consequence, cauda epididymidal spermatozoa from ornidazole-fed rats were unable to fertilize rat oocytes in vitro, with or without cumulus cells, which was not due to transfer of an inhibitor in epididymal fluid with the spermatozoa. Under IVF conditions, binding to the zona pellucida was reduced in spermatozoa from ornidazole-fed males and the spermatozoa did not undergo a change in swimming pattern, which was observed in controls. The block to fertilization could be explained by the disruption of glycolysis-dependent events, since reduced binding to the zona pellucida and a lack of kinematic changes were demonstrated by control spermatozoa in glucose-free media in the presence of respiratory substrates. The importance of glycolysis for binding to, and penetration of, the zona pellucida, and hyperactivation in rats is discussed in relation to the glycolytic production of ATP in the principal piece in which local deprivation of energy may explain the reduced force of spermatozoa from ornidazole-fed males.

scholarly journals The Differential Metabolomes in Cumulus and Mural Granulosa Cells from Human Preovulatory Follicles

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Er-Meng Gao ◽  
Bongkoch Turathum ◽  
Ling Wang ◽  
Di Zhang ◽  
Yu-Bing Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oocyte Maturation ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Cholesterol Transport ◽  
Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Preovulatory Follicles ◽  
Morphological Differences

AbstractThis study evaluated the differences in metabolites between cumulus cells (CCs) and mural granulosa cells (MGCs) from human preovulatory follicles to understand the mechanism of oocyte maturation involving CCs and MGCs. CCs and MGCs were collected from women who were undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment. The differences in morphology were determined by immunofluorescence. The metabolomics of CCs and MGCs was measured by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) followed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blot analysis to further confirm the genes and proteins involved in oocyte maturation. CCs and MGCs were cultured for 48 h in vitro, and the medium was collected for detection of hormone levels. There were minor morphological differences between CCs and MGCs. LC-MS/MS analysis showed that there were differences in 101 metabolites between CCs and MGCs: 7 metabolites were upregulated in CCs, and 94 metabolites were upregulated in MGCs. The metabolites related to cholesterol transport and estradiol production were enriched in CCs, while metabolites related to antiapoptosis were enriched in MGCs. The expression of genes and proteins involved in cholesterol transport (ABCA1, LDLR, and SCARB1) and estradiol production (SULT2B1 and CYP19A1) was significantly higher in CCs, and the expression of genes and proteins involved in antiapoptosis (CRLS1, LPCAT3, and PLA2G4A) was significantly higher in MGCs. The level of estrogen in CCs was significantly higher than that in MGCs, while the progesterone level showed no significant differences. There are differences between the metabolomes of CCs and MGCs. These differences may be involved in the regulation of oocyte maturation.

scholarly journals Investigating the Intrafollicular Factors Affecting Oocyte Developmental Competency

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Zaramasina Clark
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Oocyte Maturation ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Embryo Quality ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Significant Finding ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Final Maturation

<p>The number of cycles of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) performed increased by ~9.5 % globally between 2008 and 2010. In spite of this, the success rate in terms of delivery was only ~19.0 % (Dyer et al., 2016). This discrepancy between the demand for, and success of, these technologies necessitates the development of tools to improve ART efficiency. To facilitate this, a better understanding of how the microenvironment changes within the developing follicle to culminate in a mature, developmentally-competent oocyte is required. This study employed an in vivo and in vitro ovine model to investigate the relationship between the surrounding microenvironment and oocyte maturation, and in particular, the attainment of oocyte developmental competency and high-quality embryos.  The first objective of this PhD study was to comprehensively investigate the changing microenvironment of in vivo matured, presumptive preovulatory (PPOV) follicles from wild-type (++) and high ovulation rate (OR; I+B+) ewes. The high OR ewes were heterozygous carriers of mutations in BMP15 (I+) and BMPRIB (B+). Functional differences in follicular somatic (granulosa and cumulus) cells between these genotypes, including differential gonadotropin responsiveness of granulosa cells, composition of follicular fluid and gene expression profiles in cumulus cells were evident. These differences emerged as part of a compensatory mechanism by which oocytes from smaller follicles, containing fewer granulosa cells, achieved developmental competency in I+B+ ewes.  The second objective of this PhD study was to develop new approaches for improving current in vitro maturation (IVM) strategies. The first approach utilised in this study focused on developing biomarkers that could be used to improve prediction of developmental competency in oocytes and in vitro produced embryos. This involved interrogating the hypothesis that a combination of molecular and morphokinetic biomarkers would better predict the developmental competency of oocytes and embryos compared to using these biomarkers alone. The second approach utilised in this PhD study tested the effects of modulating IVM conditions to better mimic the follicular microenvironment of a high, compared to a low, OR species on oocyte developmental competency and embryo quality. This involved supplementing IVM media with different ratios of two oocyte-secreted growth factors, i.e. GDF9:BMP15, that were representative of low or high OR species. These approaches demonstrated significant potential and warrant further investigation.  The most significant finding of this study was that despite variances in the surrounding microenvironment during in vivo and in vitro oocyte maturation that culminated in differential gene expression patterns in cumulus cells, and divergent gonadotropin-responsiveness of granulosa cells, the gene expression signatures of developmentally-competent oocytes and the morphokinetics of high-quality embryos were unaltered. This confirms the value of developing such biomarkers for oocyte development competency and embryo quality that remain unaltered despite a changing surrounding environment. Interestingly, simulating the ratio of GDF9:BMP15 that oocytes from high OR species are exposed to during maturation improved developmental competency in oocytes as demonstrated by increased blastocyst rates. Furthermore, this study has demonstrated that combinations of molecular (cumulus cell gene expression) and morphokinetic biomarkers improved the ability to predict developmental competency in oocytes and embryos. Overall, this study revealed novel information regarding the follicular microenvironment during final maturation and identified several novel approaches to improving the efficiency of ART.</p>

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