胞内膜层系统参与孕酮诱发卵母细胞成熟的启动调控

在两栖类,孕酮诱导的cAMP水平下降既是卵球成熟的早期必要变化之一,同时对成熟启动来说又是充分的条件。cAMP水平下降是中华大蟾蜍卵母细胞成熟启动信号,但其卵质是否能产生MPF,还有赖于其它因子的存在。孕酮的受体不但存在于两栖类卵母细胞的质膜上,在细胞质内同样存在。卵母细胞的质膜不是孕酮诱发成熟的唯一作用位点。中华大蟾蜍卵母细胞的质膜和细胞质中的膜层上都有腺苷酸环化酶活性存在。孕酮不但??能通过抑制质膜上的,而且还能抑制细胞质中膜层上的腺苷酸环化酶活性,降低细胞内cAMP水平,诱发卵母细胞成熟。     

雌核发育银鲫和两性融合彩鲫卵母细胞体外诱导成熟过程中周期蛋白合成和MPF活性变化的比较研究

采用体外诱导卵母细胞成熟技术 ,比较研究了雌核发育银鲫和两性融合发育彩鲫卵母细胞成熟过程中周期蛋白合成和MPF活性变化情况。结果表明 :1 7α ,2 0 β 二氢孕酮(简称DP)浓度为 0 5μg/ml,温度为 2 4℃ ,光照时间 2 0小时为最适诱导条件。在相同条件下 ,两性生殖彩鲫卵母细胞体外诱导成熟速度明显快于银鲫。相应的细胞学研究表明 ,在体外诱导时 ,银鲫和彩鲫卵母细胞的发育成熟是正常的。银鲫卵母细胞生发泡破裂 (GVBD)时已有周期蛋白的合成 ,但生发泡破裂开始后则呈现合成速度下降直至没有合成的现象。尽管如此 ,卵母细胞中MPF活性却仍保持继续增强之势 ,至GVBD达1 0 0 %时 ,活性最强。而在两性融合发育彩鲫卵母细胞成熟过程中 ,周期蛋白的合成呈现出由较多到无 ,再逐渐到多的变化。GVBD开始时 ,周期蛋白合成较多 ,此后则急剧下降至几无周期蛋白的合成 ,以后随着成熟诱导的进行 ,周期蛋白的合成速度又缓慢回升至GVBD开始时的状态。与此相对应 ,MPF活性也出现从较强变无 ,再逐渐增至最强的变迁。这些结果初步揭示 ,鱼类卵母细胞中周期蛋白的合成和MPF活性的出现与卵母细胞的成熟分裂密切相关 ,雌核发育银鲫卵母细胞生发泡破裂开始以后 ,周期蛋白合成的消失可能与其特殊的三极纺锤体形成及其后的动力     

用实验条件改变离体高温卵巢卵对孕酮的应答能力

高温蟾蜍的卵母细胞经孕酮刺激不显示GVBD。降温能提高高温卵对孕酮的应答能力。15℃是中华大蟾蜍长足卵母细胞的孕酮应答能力发生转折的上限温度。在含血清的任氏液或199培养液中离体低温(4℃)培养一个月以后的高温蟾蜍卵巢块,经孕酮作用,卵母细胞由无能力转变为有能力GVBD。细胞学切片观察表明,这些卵可抵达第二次成熟分裂中期。培养两个月左右,孕酮作用下的卵母细胞GVBD百分率可达100%,卵母细胞内蛋白质~(32)P的参入量增加近3倍。培养液内加胰岛素(1μg/ml),或17 β-雌二醇,或甾体生物合成抑制剂Aminoglute-thimide(1 mmol/L),或清除含血清培养液内的甾体激素,均对培养中的高温卵的孕酮应答能力的转变没有明显影响。实验结果表明,离体低温培养条件下卵母细胞的孕酮应答能力的转变,可能是一种不依赖于其外周滤泡细胞的自主变化过程。     

雌核发育银鲫和两性融合彩鲫卵母细胞体外诱导成熟过程中周期蛋白 …

采用体外诱导卵母细胞成熟技术,比较研究了雌核发育银鲫和两性融合发育彩鲫卵母细胞成熟过程中周期蛋白合成和ＭＰＦ活性变化情况。结果表明：１７α,２０β－二氢孕酮（简称ＤＰ）浓度为０．５μｇ／ｍｌ,温度为２４℃,光照时间２０小时为最适诱导条件。在相同条件下,两性生殖彩鲫卵母细胞体外诱导成熟速度明显快于银鲫。相应的细胞学研究表明,在体外诱导时,银鲫和彩鲫卵母细胞的发育成熟是正常的。银鲫卵母细胞生发泡破裂（     

孕酮诱发蟾蜍卵母细胞成熟作用部位的探讨

冬眠蟾蜍长足卵母胞胞,经手工剥除其卵巢膜、滤泡膜、透明带和质膜,包埋在琼脂块里,孕酮作用3小时(18±1℃)后,该细胞质团块中出现促成熟活性物质(MPF);将含有此MPF的微量卵质(约50毫微升),注入未经激素处理的卵球,能诱发后者恢复减数分裂,胚泡破裂,排出第一极体,正常抵达第二次成熟分裂中期。如果在去除上述卵外和卵表膜层结构的同时,剔除其细胞核(胚泡),然后包裹在琼脂中,经孕酮处理3小时左右,照样能够诱发产生促成熟活性物质;微量细胞质的转移,照样能使未经激素处理的受体卵正常成熟。随着供体卵质块与孕酮接触时间的延长,其诱发受体卵成熟的百分率逐渐增高。孕酮处理后9小时的供体卵质块,几乎全部能使受体卵正常成熟。上述结果表明,在本实验处理的条件下,孕酮诱发中华大蟾蜍卵母细胞形成促成熟活性物质的过程,既不依赖于卵表透明带与质膜,也不依赖于细胞核,而是细胞质自身活动的结果;显然,孕酮诱发蟾蜍卵母细胞成熟的初始作用部位是在细胞质。     

环化腺苷酸(cAMP)在孕酮诱导两栖类卵母细胞成熟过程中的作用

环腺苷酸(cAMP)作为一种第二信使,通过影响依赖于它的蛋白激酶活性,广泛参与细胞各种生理活动。孕酮既能够抑制卵母细胞腺苷酸环化酶的活性(作用位点在Gs亚单位上),又可从激活其磷酸二酯酶的活性,从而使卵母细胞内cAMP水平下降。实验证明,孕酮诱发的cAMP水平下降为卵球成熟早期的必要变化之一,同时对成熟来说又是充分的条件。cAMP水平下降似乎导致一种所谓的成熟蛋白质(MP)的磷酸化速度的减慢或抑制,和导致该蛋白脱磷酸化速度的加快,从而解除了它对卵球成熟的抑制作用。     

促癌物TPA诱导小鼠表皮鸟氨酸脱羧酶mRNA表达和维甲类化合物对该表达的影响

強皮肤促癌物十四烷酰佛波醋酸酯(TPA)局部应用时可触发一系列的生物化学改变,其中最明显的事件之一就是对ODC活性的短暂而急到的诱导,而这种诱导作用与其促癌作用密切相关。利用Northern印迹分析和条带(Slot)印迹分析证明,10nmol/L TPA一次局部处理小鼠背部皮肤可刺激ODC mRNA(2.0kb大小)表达,在4h左右最为明显,随后逐渐降低。10nmol/L TPA多次处理小鼠皮肤(每2天一次,共4次)也有类似的促进作用,但却在6h左右最为明显。在二甲基苯蒽和巴豆油诱发的二阶段小鼠皮肤乳头瘤和癌组织中也观察到了相同大小的ODC mRNA的高水平表达,尤以癌组织最高。新维甲类化合物R8605虽能明显抑制巴豆油诱导的ODC活性,但却未见对TPA诱导的ODC mRNA增加有明显抑制作用。     

绵羊卵泡液和次黄嘌呤对卵母细胞体外减数分裂的影响

目的　利用在培养液中添加绵羊卵泡液和次黄嘌呤 ,抑制卵母细胞GVBD发生 ,延长转录活性 ,从而使卵母细胞真正成熟 ,提高胚胎质量及生产效率。方法　利用体外成熟技术对有屠宰采集的绵羊卵母细胞进行培养 ,培养液中添加卵泡液及次黄嘌呤 ,检查成熟效果。结果　将卵母细胞培养在 5 0 %和 10 0 %的卵泡液中 ,2 4h后处于GV期的卵母细胞分别为 19% (8 4 2 )和 33 3% (13 39)。在含有 4mmol L次黄嘌呤的培养液中 ,2 4h后有2 1 6 % (16 74 )的卵母细胞处GV期 ,而对照组中只有 6 % (3 5 0 ) ,经过次黄嘌呤处理的卵母细胞多数都停滞于PⅠ期(44 6 % ,33 74 )。在 4mmol L次黄嘌呤培养液中添加FSH并未使受到抑制的卵母细胞诱导成熟。结论　卵泡液和次黄嘌呤只能在有限的程度上抑制减数分裂的重新启动 ,并对减数分裂的全过程都有影响 ,这种影响程度与抑制因子的浓度相关 ,存在明显的剂量效应。     

中华大蟾蜍卵母细胞质膜的外向整流型钾离子通道

我们用电压箝方法研究了中华大蟾蜍卵母细胞的膜生理特性。发现卵母细胞膜去极化至-30mV及更偏正时,有一持续的外向电流出现,该电流与去极化程度约呈正比增加,当膜电位箝在20mV时其峰值达3.7±1.4μA。该电流被钾离子通道拮抗剂TEA和4-AP抑制,TEA半抑制浓度为2.6mmol/L。氯通道拮抗剂9-AC(2.5mmol/L)无抑制作用。无钙的或钙离子浓度增加三倍的胞外灌流液均对该电流无影响、该外向电流的逆转电位随胞外钾离子浓度的改变而变化。胞外钾离子浓度增加十倍,逆转电位约增加47.3mV,而胞外钠、钙或氯离子浓度的改变对逆转电位基本上无影响,因此该电流可被认为主要是电压依赖性钾离子流。取自冬眠蟾蜍的卵母细胞经孕酮诱发成熟后,电压依赖性钾离子流减小,仅为原来的1/20-1/30,而取自全年在高温饲养的蟾蜍的卵母细胞经孕酮处理后未见成熟,其电压依赖性钾离子流仅减小至原来的三分之一。     

内源环化腺苷酸(cAMP)含量变化对卵母细胞成熟的影响

孕酮处理前,冬眠卵内源cAMP平均水平为500 Fmol.左右;处理后cAMP迅速下降,在12小时内下降59%,卵的生殖泡破裂。高温卵或热休克冬眠卵,孕酮刺激后cAMP水平亦下降,生殖泡却未破裂,但在高温卵质中出现依赖“冬眠因子”的促成熟活性物质,而在热休克冬眠卵质中出现不依赖“冬眠因子”的促成熟活性物质。热休克能影响卵的生殖泡破裂,却未影响卵质中MPF的形成。孕酮刺激后引起的卵内cAMP含量下降,只能是卵母细胞成熟的必要条件,而不是唯一的条件。     

鸟氨酸脱羧酶参与孕酮诱导的卵成熟过程吗？

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity increases by 2 times in the process of progesterone-induced Bufo oocyte maturation (Table 1). Tumor promotor phorbol ester (PMA) is unable to affect both basal and stimulated ODC activity (Fig. 5) although it is capable of elevating the rate of steroid-induced maturation (Fig. 4). Spermine can inhibit significantly ODC activity of oocytes (Fig. 3). Hormone-stimulated ODC activity falls by 17% when Bufo oocytes are cultured in the alkaline Ringer's solution containing 5 mM spermine (pH 11.6) (Fig. 2). The period, however, is shortened by more than 50% during which the oocytes undergo GVBD (Fig. 1). Otherwise, spermine is found to repress ODC activity in dose dependent manner when microinjected in Bufo oocytes (Fig. 3). But oocytes undergo GVBD with a frequency of more than 80% when progesterone-induced increment of the enzyme activity is totally inhibited in the oocytes injected with approximately 50 nl 4.0 mM spermine. The conclusion may emerge from the above-stated results that increased ornithine decarboxylase activity is not essential for progesterone-induced Bufo oocyte maturation. In addition, ODC activity begins to increase rapidly when endogenous spermine level has been lowered to the largest extent in the maturation process. Therefore the endogenous spermine probably acts as a physiologically negative regulator of ODC activity since exogenous spermine inhibits seriously ODC activity of Bufo oocytes.     

Studies on the physiological function of spermine in the process of progesterone induced toad oocyte maturation

Spermidine or spermine but not putrescine inhibited progesterone induced Bufo bufo gargarizans oocyte maturation.The ID50 for spermine inhibition via intra -oocyte microinjection on maturation induced by progesterone was 6.8mM(100nl).Spermine could inhibit MPF induced toad oocyte maturation with a much higher ID50.A 55 kD protein was dephosphorylated during the process of progesterone induced oocyte maturation .Spermine selectively promoted the level of phosphorylation of this protein in both progesterone-stimulated and hormone-untreated oocytes.The extent of its dephosphorylation was fairly Correlated with the percentage of GVBD in the hormone stimulated oocytes.The level of endogenous spermine was reduced by 28% between the perod of 0.40 GVBD50 and 0.60 GVBD50,at which 55 kD protein was dephosphorylated.Spermine inhibited progesterone-stimulated protein synthesis in almost the same dose dependent manner as its inhititory effect on the hormone-induced maturation,The endogenous spermine regulated 55 kD protein dephosphorylation which may trigger the increase of protein dephosphorylation which may trigger the increase of protein synthesis and in turn promote the activation of MPF,It is possible that 55 kD protein may be one of the components of messenger ribonucleoprotein(mRNP) particles.     

DFP-sensitive multicatalytic protease complexes (proteasomes) involved in the control of oocyte maturation in the toad,Bufo japonicus

The inhibition of progesterone-induced oocyte maturation by diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP), a typical serine protease inhibitor, was investigated in oocytes of the Japanese toad Bufo japonicus for the first time. Oocytes to which DFP was externally applied did not undergo germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), which is an early signal of oocyte maturation, in response to progesterone. The more inhibitory period was found to be 0–0.5 GVBD₅₀ on a relative time scale [when the time at which 50% of the oocytes had completed GVBD (GVBD₅₀) was set at 1.0], namely, before the beginning of GVBD. DFP-sensitive proteases, which seem to be multifunctional nonlysosomal protease complexes (proteasomes), may already be present in the cytosol of premature oocytes. Peptide hydrolyzing activity, as reflected by proteasome activity, was found to be regulated before and after GVBD. In addition, immunoblotting regarding the native electrophoretic protein profile of the proteasomes throughout the maturational process demonstrated that they undergo alterations in mobility dependent upon the maturational process. These findings raise the possibility that the activities of some endogenous DFP-sensitive proteasomes play distinct, essential roles in oocyte maturation triggered by progesterone in Bufo. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Casein kinase G may be the target of spermine during progesterone-induced oocyte maturation

Casein kinase G (CKG) with more than 2500-fold enrichraent was purified from Bufo bufo gargarizans ovaries. The catalytic activity of the enzyme was found to be associated with its 42 kD subunit, and its 26 kD subunit was found to be the major tsrget for the enzyme autophos phorylation. Each fuU-grown oocyte contained 1.9 units of CKG corresponding to an intracellular concentration of 93 nM. After injecting an amount of 0,38 units of the enzyme into the oocyte, approximately 50% of the progesterone-induoed maturation was inhibited. The inhibitory effect was enhanced in oocytes pretreated with spermine, which was consistent with the results that the enzyme was activated in vitro in the presence of spermine, The MPF-induced oocyte maturation was delayed and even prohibited in the kinase-microinjected oocytes. A 55 kD oocyte protein was identified as an suhstrate of CKG both in vivo and in vitro, and the enhancement of the 55 kD protein phosphory[ation was associated with kinase inhibition on maturation and on protein synthesis in kinase-microinjected oocytes. As the endogenous spermine level decreased in the course of progesteroneinduced oocyte maturation. 55 kD protein was dephosphorylated, Heparin, a specific inhibitor of CKG, potentiated the progesterone-induced oocyte maturation. Altogether the experimental reSults indicated Strongly that CKG may be the physiological target of spermine.     

Possible involvement of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, but not protein kinase B or glycogen synthase kinase 3beta, in progesterone-induced oocyte maturation in the Japanese brown frog, Rana japonica

It is known that amphibian oocytes undergo maturation through the formation and activation of maturation-promoting factor (MPF) in response to stimulation by the maturation-inducing hormone progesterone; however, the signal transduction pathway that links the hormonal stimulation on the oocyte surface to the activation of MPF in the oocyte cytoplasm remains a mystery. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the signal transduction mediated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (PKB), and glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta) is involved in progesterone-induced oocyte maturation in the Japanese brown frog, Rana japonica. Inhibitors of PI3K, wortmannin and LY294002, inhibited progesterone-stimulated germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) only when the oocytes were treated at the initial phase of maturation, suggesting that PI3K is involved in the progesterone-induced maturation of Rana oocytes. However, we also obtained results suggesting that PKB and GSK3beta are not involved in Rana oocyte maturation. A constitutively active PKB expressed in the oocytes failed to induce GVBD in the absence of progesterone despite its high level of kinase activity. A Myc-tagged PKB expressed in the oocytes (used to monitor endogenous PKB activity) was not activated in the process of progesterone-induced oocyte maturation. Overexpression of GSK3beta, which is reported to retard the progress of Xenopus oocyte maturation, had no effect on Rana oocyte maturation. On the basis of these results, we propose that PI3K is involved in the initiation of Rana oocyte maturation, but that neither PKB nor GSK3beta is a component of the PI3K signal transduction pathway.     

A marked animal-vegetal polarity in the localization of Na(+),K(+) -ATPase activity and its down-regulation following progesterone-induced maturation

The stage-VI Xenopus oocyte has a very distinct animal-vegetal polarity with structural and functional asymmetry. In this study, we show the expression and distribution pattern of Na(+),K(+) -ATPase in stage-VI oocytes, and its changes following progesterone-induced maturation. Using enzyme-specific electron microscopy phosphatase histochemistry, [(3) H]-ouabain autoradiography, and immunofluorescence cytochemistry at light microscopic level, we find that Na(+),K(+) -ATPase activity is mainly confined to the animal hemisphere. Electron microscopy histochemical results also suggest that polarized distribution of Na(+),K(+) -ATPase activity persists following progesterone-induced maturation, and it becomes gradually more polarized towards the animal pole. The time course following progesterone-induced maturation suggests that there is an initial up-regulation and then gradual down-regulation of Na(+),K(+) -ATPase activity leading to germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). By GVBD, the Na(+),K(+) -ATPase activity is completely down-regulated due to endocytotic removal of pump molecules from the plasma membrane into the sub-cortical region of the oocyte. This study provides the first direct evidence for a marked asymmetric localization of Na(+),K(+) -ATPase activity in any vertebrate oocyte. Here, we propose that such asymmetry in Na(+),K(+) -ATPase activity in stage-VI oocytes, and their down-regulation following progesterone-induced maturation, is likely to have a role in the active state of the germinal vesicle in stage-VI oocytes and chromosomal condensation after GVBD.     

Protein Kinase A(PKA)-Restrictcive and PKA-Permissive Phases of Oocyte Maturation

Substantial evidence has indicated that cAMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase A orPKA) plays a critical role in maintaining meiotic prophase arrest in vertebrate oocytes.However, PKA activity dynamic and its physiological substrate profile remain poorly defined.We have recently developed a novel PKA substrate construct which we employ to monitor PKAactivity in live oocytes. In the current study, we have employed biochemical and imaginganalyses of single cells to determine PKA activity dynamics during oocyte maturation and toinvestigate the consequence of re-activation of PKA during oocyte maturation. Wedemonstrated here that progesterone caused a rapid and permanent inhibition of PKA during theentire maturation process. However, artificial reactivation of endogenous PKA had differentialconsequences, depending on the timing of PKA reactivation. Reactivation of endogenous PKAat any time prior to GVBD inhibited progesterone-induced GVBD. PKA reactivation at GVBD,or thereafter, did not interfere with meiosis I to meiosis II transition, nor did it interfere withmetaphase II arrest. These results demonstrate for the first time a PKA-restricted phase and aPKA-permissive phase during oocyte maturation.     

蟾蜍泛素羧基末端水解酶(tUCH)以不依赖其UCH活性的方式参与卵母细胞成熟调控

本实验室已报道中华大蟾蜍卵母细胞的p28蛋白具泛素羧基末端水解酶活性,称作tUCH,它和哺乳类中发现的UCH L1的氨基酸序列具高度同源性,二级结构同源性比较发现,二者可能具类似的功能。本文实验表明:未成熟卵母细胞和成熟卵母细胞的可溶性蛋白中均含有tUCH,约占提取物中蛋白质总量的2%。根据测定所得到的GST-tUCH和GST-UCH L1对底物Ub-AMC的酶动力学参数,说明卵母细胞中tUCH可能与小鼠UCH L1有类似的生物学功能;anti-tUCH单抗可以与原核细胞表达的tUCH和显性失活突变类型tUCH C(90)S特异结合,但不识别小鼠的UCH L1。Anti-tUCH单抗能够和tUCH结合但不能封闭它的UCH活性。当anti-tUCH单抗注入卵母细胞内,则孕酮诱导的生发泡破裂(germinal vesicle breakdown,GVBD)过程受到抑制,足见tUCH参与GVHD调节并不依赖其UCH活性。     

Boron deficiency disables Xenopus laevis oocyte maturation events

Processes of oocyte maturation that may be affected by boron (B) deficiency were studied to potentially determine a possible biochemical role of B in the Xenopus laevis oocyte. More specifically, the Xenopus oocyte membrane progesterone receptor (OMPR) in B-deficient oocytes was characterized by evaluating progesterone affinity for the OMPR and OMPR responsiveness to progesterone stimulation. The responsiveness of B-deficient oocytes to microinjection of a purified oocyte cytoplasmic fraction (OCF) from B-adequate oocytes was also studied to evaluate which aspects of the maturation process were affected by B deficiency. Results suggested that B deficiency resulted in incomplete oocyte maturation and that maturation could not be induced by the administration of exogenous progesterone. Progesterone successfully induced germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) in oocytes from females fed a B-supplemented diet (+B) and females administered a traditional diet of beef liver and lung (B adequate). Addition of exogenous B to the -B oocytes increased the rate of progesterone-induced GVBD slightly. The B-deficient X. laevis oocytes were capable of undergoing GVBD when endogenously stimulated by microinjected purified B-adequate OCF. These results indicated that the inability of the B-deficient oocytes to undergo GVBD was not associated with the cytoplasmic induction process specifically, but possibly in the progesterone receptor or signal transduction pathways. Radio-binding studies found that progesterone binding to the B-deficient OPMR was greatly reduced compared to B-adequate or B-supplemented OMPR. Moreover, washout studies determined that progesterone binding to the OMPR in B-deficient oocytes was more transient than the B adequate or +B oocytes.     

The effect of hypoxanthine on mouse oocyte growth and development in vitro: maintenance of meiotic arrest and gonadotropin-induced oocyte maturation

The concentration of hypoxanthine in mouse follicular fluid has been estimated to be 2-4 mM, and although this concentration maintains meiotic arrest in fully grown mouse oocytes in vitro, oocyte maturation in vivo is not induced by a decrease in the concentration of this purine in follicular fluid (J. J. Eppig, P. F. Ward-Bailey, and D. L. Coleman, Biol. Reprod. 33, 1041-1049, 1985). In the present study, the effect of 2 mM hypoxanthine on oocyte growth and development in vitro was assessed and the ability of gonadotropins to stimulate oocyte maturation in the continued presence of hypoxanthine was determined. Oocyte-granulosa cell complexes were isolated from 10- to 11-day-old mice and cultured in the presence or absence of 2 mM hypoxanthine. Oocytes from 10- to 11-day-old mice are in mid-growth phase and, without further development, are incompetent of undergoing meiotic maturation. During a 12-day culture period the granulosa cell-enclosed oocytes approximately doubled in size and, regardless of the presence or absence of hypoxanthine, 50-70% developed competence to undergo germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). Hypoxanthine promoted the continued association of oocytes with their companion granulosa cells during the 12-day culture period, and therefore had a beneficial effect on oocyte development. Most of the oocytes that acquired GVBD competence in the absence of hypoxanthine underwent spontaneous GVBD. In contrast, 95% of the GVBD-competent oocytes were maintained in meiotic arrest by hypoxanthine. Following withdrawal of the hypoxanthine after the 12-day culture, 75% of the GVBD-competent oocytes underwent GVBD. These results show that hypoxanthine, and/or its metabolites, maintains meiotic arrest in oocytes that grow and acquire GVBD competence in vitro. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), but not luteinizing hormone or human chorionic gonadotropin, induced oocyte GVBD in the continued presence of hypoxanthine. FSH stimulated oocyte maturation at a significantly (P less than 0.01) higher frequency than coculture of the granulosa cell-denuded oocytes with granulosa cells in the continued presence of hypoxanthine. FSH did not induce the maturation of denuded oocytes cocultured with granulosa cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)