Effects of protein kinase C on parthenogenetic activation of pig oocytes using calcium ionophore or nitric oxide-donor
Porcine oocytes matured <I>in vitr</I>o were activated for parthenogenetic development using either calcium ionophore (50μM for 10 min) or nitric oxide donor SNAP (2mM for 23.5 hours). Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, bisindolylmaleimide I or rottlerin, are able to inhibit parthenogenetic activation induced by calcium ionophore. The rate of activated oocytes decreased from 69% to 2% (<I>P</I> < 0.05) under the effect of bisindolylmaleimide I at a concentration of 0 or 20nM, respectively. The activation rate decreased from 68% to 0% (<I>P</I> < 0.05) under the influence of 0 or 20μM rottlerin, respectively. PKC inhibitors Go6976 or hispidin had no effect on the oocyte activation using calcium ionophore or on oocytes activated by a nitric oxide donor. The activation of oocytes by a nitric oxide donor is not significantly influenced even under the effects of bisindolylmaleimide I or rottlerin. Based on these data we can conclude that the oocyte activation induced by calcium ionophore depends on PKC, especially on PKC-δ. On the other hand, the oocyte activation induced by nitric oxide is independent of the tested isotypes of PKC.