6—DMAP对小鼠卵母细胞减数分裂启动及孤雌发育作用

小鼠卵泡卵母细胞体外培养过程中加入２ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ６－ＤＭＡＰ可抑制卵母细胞自发的染色持浓缩和生发泡破裂（ＧＶＢＤ）。源自超排的ＭⅡ期卵母细胞则能为６－ＤＭＡＰ所激活。ｈＣＧ注射后１８－１９ｈ的卵母细胞置于２ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ６－ＤＭＡＰ的ＣＺＢ溶液中培养０．５ｈ、１ｈ、２ｈ、３ｈ,卵母细胞的激活率分别为２６．１％、７５．２％、７５．８％、７７．３％、卵裂率分别为８８．２％、７３．２％、６７．０％、５８．     

Effects of Protein Synthesis on the Maturation of Mouse Oocytes in vitro

卵母细胞成熟过程中伴随有多种蛋白质的合成与磷酸化,蛋白质的合成对卵细胞的成熟具有重要作用。本实验较系统地阐述小鼠卵母细胞体外成熟培养的不同阶段蛋白质合成对卵母细胞成熟的影响。放线菌酮是肽链延伸的抑制因子。将生发泡（ＧＶ）期的卵母细胞分别于Ｔ６成熟培养液中培养０、４、６、９小时后,转至含有１０ｍｇ／ｍｌ放线菌酮的Ｔ６成熟培养液继续培养１２１５小时。固定、染色、观察卵母细胞。结果如Ｔａｂｌｅ１。０小时实验组：抑制处理４小时,其生发泡破裂（ＧＶＢＤ）发生率与对照组无明显差异。表明：卵母细胞ＧＶＢＤ所需蛋白质（如：成熟促进因子ＭＰＦ等）是在卵巢的卵泡卵母细胞生长过程中完成的。４、６小时实验组：笫一极体的释放被完全抑制,卵母细胞不能达到ＭＩ期,染色质处于凝集状态（Ｆｉｇ．３＆４）。表明：ＧＶＢＤＭＩ期间所需蛋白质的合成对卵母细胞ＭＩ期中期纺缍体的形成与维持具有重要作用。９小时实验组：可能由于卵母细胞发育速度存在个体间的差异。没有进入ＭＩＩ期的便停滞于ＭＩ期以前。进入ＭＩ期的则能排出笫一极体。因此,笫一极体的释放总体上呈不完全抑制状态,其释放率低于对照组。但是,后者虽然弪过恢复培养至１５小时,可能由于微管蛋白的合成     

促性腺激素对猪卵丘细胞—卵母细胞复合体体外减数分裂？…

本实验利用猪卵母细胞体外无血清培养技术,选用猪卵泡液中自然存在的次黄嘌呤（ＨＸ）作为卵母细胞自发成熟的抑制剂,研究附了中性腺激素对猪卵丘细胞－卵母细胞复体（Ｃ ＥＯ）减数分裂恢复的具体作用。ＣＥＯ在含有不同浓度的促性腺激素（ＦＳＨ,ｈＣＧ,ＦＳＨ＋ｈＣＧ）的培养液中培养２４ｈ,观察卵母细胞减数分裂恢复（ＧＶＢＤ）情况。实验结果如下：１．ＦＳＨ（１－５００ＩＵ／Ｌ）能够明显刺激ＣＥＯ克服ＨＸ的抑制作     

小鼠卵母细胞体外成熟及受精过程中细胞核的时空变化规律

用电镜方法研究小鼠卵母细胞的发育及受精虽然已有很多报道,但大多数是有关细胞质、尤其是皮质颗粒、高尔基复合体及线粒体的形态及分布变化的。从卵母细胞体外成熟培养、第一次减数分裂恢复到受精后第二次减数分裂完成,细胞核经历了复杂的变化,有关的系统研究却很少。本实验详细地研究了小鼠卵母细胞体外成熟及受精过程中两性生殖细胞内细胞核的时空变化规律。从卵巢中采集生发泡（ＧＶ）期卵母细胞,进行体外成熟培养,经超排获得的成熟卵母细胞去卵丘和透明带后,用于体外受精。于体外成熟培养及受精后的不同时间,用光镜及电镜方法观察细胞核变化及极体排放。结果表明,尽管大多数卵母细胞在体外培养２至４小时生发泡破裂（ＧＶＢＤ）,但有１３．６％在培养８小时后仍处于ＧＶ期（图１）。电镜观察揭示,不发生ＧＶＢＤ的卵母细胞核的核仁由颗粒性纤维成分、空泡及纤维中心组成。有时核仁表面有空泡。只有核仁完全致密化、核仁周围有核仁相随染色质分布时,卵母细胞才获得恢复减数分裂的能力。ＧＶＢＤ发生时,随着核仁相随染色质向核膜侧扩散迁移,核仁越来越小;与此同时,核膜打折,染色质团块中央出现电子致密的芯。核仁的消失早于核膜的破裂,提示核仁成分可能参与核膜打折及破裂,体外培     

促性腺激素对猪卵丘细胞-卵母细胞复合体体外减数分裂恢复作用的研究

本实验利用猪卵母细胞体外无血清培养技术,选用猪卵泡液中自然存在的次黄嘌呤（ＨＸ）作为卵母细胞自发成熟的抑制剂,研究了促性腺激素对猪卵丘细胞－卵母细胞复合体（ＣＥＯ）减数分裂恢复的具体作用。ＣＥＯ在含有不同浓度的促性腺激素（ＦＳＨ,ｈＣＧ,ＦＳＨ＋ｈＣＧ）的培养液中培养２４ｈ,观察卵母细胞减数分裂恢复（ＧＶＢＤ）情况。实验结果如下：１．ＦＳＨ（１－５００ＩＵ／Ｌ）能够明显刺激ＣＥＯ克服ＨＸ的抑制作用而恢复减数分裂（Ｐ＜０．０５）,该作用具有剂量依赖性;２．ｈＣＧ（１－５００ＩＵ／Ｌ）对ＣＥＯ减数分裂的恢复无明显作用;３．ｈＣＧ（１０－５００ＩＵ／Ｌ）与ＦＳＨ（１０,１００ＩＵ／Ｌ）无协同作用。上述结果表明,猪ＣＥＯ减数分裂的恢复可能主要依赖于ＦＳＨ的作用,该作用能使猪卵丘细胞产生一种或几种阳性因子,作用于卵母细胞,从而克服ＨＸ的抑制作用而恢复减数分裂。ｈＣＧ无明显作用,可能是因为卵丘细胞上没有ＬＨ受体或ＬＨ受体的数量不足     

高产稳产聚羟基烷酸的重组大肠杆菌的构建

重组大肠杆菌Ｅｓｃｈｅｒｉｃｈｉａ ｃｏｌｉＨＭＳ１７４（ｐＴＺ１８ＵＰＨＢ） 含有携带聚羟基烷酸（ＰＨＡ） 合成基因（ ｐｈａＣＡＢ）＊＊ 的质粒ｐＴＺ１８ＵＰＨＢ,是很有潜力的ＰＨＡ 生产菌,但存在着质粒不稳定和不能合成３羟基丁酸（３ＨＢ） 与３羟基戊酸（３ＨＶ） 共聚物［Ｐ（３ＨＢｃｏ３ＨＶ）］ 的缺陷。将ＲＫ２ 质粒上的ｐａｒ ＤＥ 基因引入ｐＴＺ１８ＵＰＨＢ 构成质粒ｐＪＭＣ２ ,该质粒可以在宿主Ｅ．ＣｏｌｉＨＭＳ１７４ 中稳定遗传。将培养基中的磷酸盐浓度降至１８ ｍ ｍｏｌ／Ｌ,发现Ｅ．Ｃｏｌｉ ＨＭＳ１７４（ｐＪＭＣ２） 能够以丙酸为前体合成Ｐ（３ＨＢｃｏ３ＨＶ） ,其中３ＨＶ 在共聚物中的含量为５ ％ ～８ ％ 。在５Ｌ自动发酵罐中分批补料培养Ｅ．Ｃｏｌｉ ＨＭＳ１７４（ｐＪＭＣ２） ,培养基初始磷酸盐浓度为１５ ｍ ｍｏｌ／Ｌ,３０ ｈ 后每升培养液中干菌体可达４２－５ ｇ,Ｐ（３ＨＢｃｏ３ＨＶ） 占干重的７０ ％ ,其中３ＨＶ 在共聚物中的含量为４－９ ％ 。     

去甲斑蝥酸钠对小鼠卵母细胞第一次减数分裂的影响

体外培养的小鼠卵母细胞在１２ｈ内可完成第一次减数分裂,排出第一极体。将卵母细胞培养在含２５０μｇ／ｍｌ去甲斑蝥酸钠的培养液中,生发泡破裂（ＧＶＢＤ）过程不受影响,但卵母细胞不能完成减数分裂过程,卵母细胞中没有减数分裂器的形成,染色体紧密凝缩在一起;去甲斑蝥酸钠对小鼠卵母细胞减数分裂的影响在６ｈ内具有可逆性：卵母细胞ＧＶ破裂后用去甲斑蝥酸钠处理２ｈ换正常培养液培养,整个减数分裂过程不受影响;ＧＶ期卵母细胞用去甲斑蝥酸钠连续处理６ｈ,洗去药物继续培养,减数分裂可继续进行,但第一极体的排放时间推迟。去甲斑蝥酸钠对分裂期细胞特异性磷蛋白的出现影响不显著,在连续处理的卵母细胞中分裂期细胞特异性磷蛋白仍然存在。     

人绒毛膜促性腺激素β—亚基在中国仓鼠卵巢细胞中…

本文以哺乳动物细胞表达载体ｐＳＶ２－ｄｈｆｒ为运载体,构建了受控于ＳＶ４０早期启动子β－ｈＣＧ基因的表达载体,转染ＣＨＯ－ｈｆｒ＾－细胞后,挑选ＣＨＯ（ｄｈｆｒ＾＋）细胞,结果表明β－ｈＣＧ不仅在细胞中表达,不分泌到培养液中,通过氨甲喋（ＭＴＸ）加压后,表达量逐渐提高,０．１μｍｏｌ／ＬＭＴＸ条件下培养液中β－ｈＣＧ最高表达量可达到１．５μｇ／１０＾６细胞．２４小时。经亲和层析获得纯的重组β－ｈＣ     

缺氧对肺动脉内皮细胞环氧合酶,血栓素合成酶基因表达的影响

应用分子杂交技术和放射免疫检测方法研究了缺氧对猪肺动脉内皮细胞的环氧合酶（ＣＯＸ）和血栓素合成酶（ＴＸＳ）基因表达及其条件培养基中６ｋｅｔｏＰＧＦ１α和ＴＸＢ２含量的动态变化。发现：６,１２,２４和４８ｈ缺氧组分别与常氧组比,ＣＯＸ１和ＣＯＸ２基因表达增加,并且ＣＯＸ２ｍＲＮＡ在缺氧６和１２ｈ就明显表达增加。在前述的不同缺氧时间组内皮细胞条件培养基中６ｋｅｔｏＰＧＦ１α含量也均显著高于相应常氧对照组（Ｐ＜０．０５）;但ＴＸＳ的ｍＲＮＡ水平及ＴＸＢ２含量在缺氧４８ｈ才有明显增加（Ｐ＜０．０５）。结果表明：（１）缺氧可诱导肺动脉内皮ＣＯＸ基因表达和ＰＧＩ２生成增加,在早期以ＣＯＸ２基因表达增加更为明显,提示可能在肺血管缺氧反应中起调节作用。（２）４８ｈ的缺氧可使内皮细胞ＴＸＳ基因表达及ＴＸＡ２生成增加,它可能在慢性缺氧肺血管反应中起介导作用。     

蚕豆叶片下表皮ABA结合蛋白提取及分离条件的选择

以蚕豆（ＶｉｃｉａｆａｂａＬ．）叶片下表皮为材料,比较ＴｒｉｔｏｎＸ１００、冷丙酮和（ＮＨ４）２ＳＯ４对ＡＢＡ结合蛋白（简称ＡＢＡＢＰ）的提取效果。结果表明：０．５％（Ｗ／Ｖ）ＴｒｉｔｏｎＸ１００去垢剂提取的ＡＢＡＢＰ与ＡＢＡ特异结合活性较高（０．４８７ｎｍｏｌ／ｇｐｒｏｔｅｉｎ）,维持结合活性的时间较长（４℃下反应４０ｈ保持最大结合的６０％）;而冷丙酮法提取的ＡＢＡＢＰ特异结合活性只有０．３２５ｎｍｏｌ／ｇｐｒｏｔｅｉｎ,且容易失活,１０ｈ仅保持最大结合的３０％左右。实验比较了各种盐离子对ＡＢＡＢＰ的影响,高盐（＞３００ｍｍｏｌ／ＬＮａＣｌ）不利于ＡＢＡＢＰ的结合反应,低浓度ＫＣｌ对ＡＢＡＢＰ活性略有促进。ＡＢＡＢＰ的结合活性需要介质中有一定量的Ｃａ２＋和Ｍｇ２＋,用ＥＤＴＡ螯合介质中Ｍｇ２＋、Ｃａ２＋后,ＡＢＡＢＰ活性大大降低,分别为最大结合的７５％和６０％。ＡＢＡＢＰ与ＡＢＡ反应的最适ｐＨ在６．５,这些条件为亲和层析纯化ＡＢＡＢＰ提供了依据。     

Germinal vesicle migration and dissolution in Rana pipiens oocytes: effect of steroids and microtubule poisons

Germinal vesicle migration (GVM) as evidenced by the appearance of the germinal vesicle at the animal pole surface was induced by nocadazole and demecolcine (colcemid). Nocodazole significantly lowered the progesterone ED50 for germinal vesicle dissolution (GVD). Both demecolcine and nocodazole enhanced centrifugation-induced GVM (i.e., lowered ooplasmic viscoelasticity) after 6-h incubation, and both potentiated the effect of progesterone in this assay. Estradiol, by contrast, inhibited GVM induced by demecolcine in both follicle-enclosed and denuded oocytes. Estradiol was also found to inhibit the normal enhancement of centrifugation-induced GVM by demecolcine or progesterone. Taxol was found to have effects that were generally opposite to those of demecolcine and nocodazole. Taxol inhibited centrifugation-induced GVM either alone or in the presence of progesterone. In addition, taxol significantly increased the progesterone ED50 for GVD induction. Taken together the available data support the hypothesis that microtubules play a role in maintaining the internal position of the germinal vesicle in the prematuration oocyte and that changes occur in the oocyte cytoskeleton during maturation.     

Effect of microtubule reactive drugs on steroid- and centrifugation-induced germinal vesicle migration during goldfish oocyte meiosis

During the process of progestogen-induced meiotic maturation in the goldfish oocyte, the oocyte nucleus (germinal vesicle, GV) migrates to the sperm entry site or micropyle at the animal pole. Following GV migration (GVM) to the micropyle, the nuclear membrane undergoes dissolution (GVD) and the cell enters metaphase I in preparation to generate the first polar body. Microtubule destabilizing drugs including colcemid, nocodazole and vinblastine were found to elicit GVM, mimicking the process which occurs just prior to the prophase I-metaphase I transition during steroid induced oocyte meiotic maturation. In addition, these drugs enhanced the induction of GVM by 17 alpha, 20 beta dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one, a potent, naturally occurring meiotogenic steroid in this species. By contrast, taxol, a microtubule stabilizing drug, was found to inhibit steroid induced GVM. A new assay for centrifugation induced GVM was applied to the goldfish oocyte in order to assess effects of steroids and drugs on GVM, without the complication of GVD or the restrictions imposed by the slow time course of naturally occurring GVM. The effective centrifugal force (ECF) required to elicit GVM in 50% of the oocytes (ECF50) decreased significantly after short incubations (1-5 hr) of oocytes with either 17 alpha,20 beta dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one or microtubule disrupting drugs (i.e., colcemid, nocodazole, or vinblastine). A working hypothesis, modeled after the effects of microtubule disrupting agents on intermediate filament arrays in somatic cells, is proposed in which a small number of microtubules or other polymeric tubulin units are responsible for maintaining a cytoskeletal array.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Increased expression of kisspeptin and GnRH forms in the brain of scombroid fish during final ovarian maturation and ovulation

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Kisspeptins (Kiss) are prime players in the control of reproductive function through their regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) expression in the brain. The experimental scombroid fish, chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) expresses two kiss (kiss1 and kiss2) and three gnrh (gnrh1, gnrh2, and gnrh3) forms in the brain. In the present study, we analyzed expression changes of kiss and gnrh mRNAs in the brain and corresponding GnRH peptides in the brain and pituitary during final ovarian maturation (FOM) and ovulation. METHODS: Female fish possessing late vitellogenic oocytes were injected with GnRH analogue to induce FOM and ovulation. Fish were observed for daily spawning activities and sampled one week post-injection at germinal vesicle migration (GVM), oocyte hydration, ovulation, and post-ovulatory time periods. Changes in relative mRNA levels of kiss and gnrh forms in the brain were determined using quantitative real-time PCR. Changes in GnRH peptides in the brain and pituitary were analyzed using time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay. RESULTS: Both kiss1 and kiss2 mRNA levels in the brain were low at late vitellogenic stage and increased significantly during the GVM period. However, kiss1 mRNA levels decreased during oocyte hydration before increasing again at ovulatory and post-ovulatory periods. In contrast, kiss2 mRNA levels decreased at ovulatory and post-ovulatory periods. Levels of gnrh1 mRNA in the brain increased only during post-ovulatory period. However, levels of gnrh2 and gnrh3 mRNAs were elevated during GVM and then, decreased during oocyte hydration before increasing again at ovulatory period. During post-ovulatory period, both gnrh2 and gnrh3 mRNA levels declined. Peptide levels of all three GnRH forms in the brain were elevated during GVM and oocyte hydration; their levels were significantly lower during late vitellogenic, ovulatory, and post-ovulatory periods. In contrast, pituitary GnRH peptide levels did not show any significant fluctuations, with the GnRH1 peptide levels being many-fold higher than the GnRH2 and GnRH3 forms. CONCLUSION: The results indicate increased expression of multiple Kiss and GnRH forms in the brain and suggest their possible involvement in the regulation of FOM and ovulation in captive female chub mackerel.     

Movement and dissolution of the nucleus (germinal vesicle) during Rana oocyte meiosis: Effect of demecolcine (Colcemid) and centrifugation

Demecolcine (Colcemid; DE), a colchicine derivative, augmented meiosis reinitiation by progesterone in the follicle-enclosed oocyte of the frog, Rana pipiens. Whereas DE treatment alone had a minor stimulatory effect on germinal vesicle dissolution (GVD), this treatment elicited significant germinal vesicle movement (GVM) as evidenced by translocation of the GV to the oocyte surface. The effects of DE on GVM and progesterone-induced GVD were also elicited in oocytes lacking follicle cells or other follicle wall components (type IV follicles), indicating that DE has a direct action on the oocyte itself. DE alone did not alter oocyte membrane voltage (V_m), resistance (R_m), or current (I_m) and did not interfere with the changes in these parameters usually elicited by progesterone. After 5 hr incubation of follicle-enclosed oocytes with either DE or progesterone, or combinations of both, the GV could be moved to the animal pole surface with less centrifugal force compared to control follicles. This result suggests that a decrease in ooplasmic viscoelasticity is induced by progesterone, which is mimicked by DE before GVM or GVD normally begins. The results presented here support the idea that DE-sensitive oocyte components such as microtubules are involved in the process of steroid-induced meiosis. These findings provide a physiological basis for future studies of cytoskeletal involvement in the events of meiosis.     

Spontaneous maturation of follicular oocytes in Rana dybowskii in vitro: seasonal influences, progesterone production and involvement of cAMP

Seasonal and hormonal influences regulating oocyte maturation (germinal vesicle breakdown, GVBD) in ovarian follicles of Rana dybowskii were investigated. During the early winter (Dec.-Jan.) GVBD occurred at a low incidence following in vitro culture of intact follicles. Addition of progesterone of frog pituitary homogenate (FPH) to such follicles induced oocyte maturation, whereas IBMX or forskolin inhibited hormone-induced oocyte maturation. The time course of spontaneous in vitro maturation varied markedly with the seasons and between animals. Follicles isolated from the ovaries in early February required 21-24 hours of culture to mature spontaneously, and addition of FPH or progesterone to the culture medium markedly accelerated the time course of GVBD. In contrast, follicles isolated in late February matured very rapidly (less than 6 hours), and FPH or progesterone were ineffective in accelerating the time course of GVBD. IBMX and forskolin separately or in combination stimulated follicular progesterone production, which resembled that seen following FPH stimulation. FPH addition to such follicles shifted the steroid peak to the left (accelerated) and increased the absolute amount of hormone detected in late-maturing follicles (50% GVBD, about 18 hours) but not in rapidly maturing follicles (50% GVBD, 3 hours). In contrast to other amphibians, a high incidence of spontaneous oocyte maturation occurred during in vitro culture. Essentially all animals exhibited spontaneous maturation during the normal breeding season, even those animals collected in the early winter and kept in artificial hibernation at 4 degrees C for extended periods.     

Induction of ovulation and oocyte maturation of amphibian (Rana dybowskii) ovarian follicles by protein kinase C activation in vitro.

We previously reported that protein kinase C (PKC) activation induced meiotic maturation (germinal vesicle breakdown, GVBD) of Rana dybowskii follicular oocytes cultured in vitro without hormone treatment. The experiments reported here were carried out to establish whether ovarian follicles ovulated in response to PKC activation during culture. A phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), was used for PKC activation. TPA addition (10 microM) to cultured ovarian fragments induced ovulation and maturation of the oocytes similar to that seen following addition of frog pituitary homogenate (FPH, 0.05 pituitary/ml) or progesterone (0.5 microgram/ml). Such changes were not observed when ovarian fragments were treated with inactive phorbol ester. The time course of TPA-induced ovulation was similar to that produced by FPH-stimulated ovulation. Both TPA- and FPH-stimulated ovulation and maturation were blocked by treatment with cycloheximide, forskolin (an adenylate cyclase stimulator), and 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methyl-piperazine (H-7; a PKC inactivator). FPH treatment markedly increased progesterone levels in the medium during ovarian fragment culture whereas TPA treatment failed to elevate progesterone levels. Thus, TPA treatment mimics FPH and progesterone in inducing ovulation and meiotic maturation in cultured amphibian ovarian fragments. The data strongly suggest that PKC plays an important role in regulating ovulation as well as in modulating amphibian oocyte maturation during follicular differentiation.     

Effect of demecolcine (colcemid) on goldfish oocyte meiosis in Vitro

Germinal vesicle migration (GVM) and dissolution (GVD) were studied in goldfish oocytes treated with 17-α,20–β-dihydroxyprogesterone (DHP) and/or demecolcine (DE; a colchicine derivative also known as colcemid) in vitro. DE (100 μg/ml) in the presence of DHP, enhanced steroid-induced GVM, after both 24 and 48 hr of incubation and significantly reduced the DHP ED₅₀ value for GVM. Similarly, administration of DE alone elicited a significant, dose-related increase in GVM after 24 or 48 hr of incubation. The presence of DE, either alone or in combination with DHP, was without effect on GVD. The effect of DE was also tested on ooplasmic viscoelasticity in goldfish follicles subjected to a centrifugal force (160g for 1 min). Preincubation (24 hr) of goldfish follicles in DE significantly influenced the direction and the extent of the centrifugally induced GV movement along the axis of centrifugal force in a dose-related fashion. The present results provide support for the hypothesis that cytoskeletal components, such as microtubules that are sensitive to DE, are involved in the mechanism of GVM in goldfish oocytes.     

Influence of luteinizing hormone and progesterone on maturation and fertilizability of rat oocytes in vitro

The effects of luteinizing hormone (NIH-bovine LH) and progesterone on maturation in vitro of oocyte-cumulus complexes from adult proestrous rats were studied by comparing proportions of oocytes showing germinal vesicle breakdown, mucification of the cumulus oophorus, and fertilizability. Addition of either or both of the hormones to the medium in concentrations between 1.25 and 10 μg/ml during maturation had no discernible effect on germinal vesicle breakdown or on fertilization. Mucification was stimulated by LH and even more by LH plus progesterone. It was concluded that maturation in vivo is the result of concerted action of the two hormones. However, addition of LH + progesterone had no effect on the fertilizability of these oocytes. We attribute this to a relative insensitivity of the system for fertilization in vitro to subtle changes in the oocyte.     

Effects of gonadotropins on oocyte maturation and progesterone production by porcine ovarian follicles cultured in vitro

Effects of gonadotropins on the maturation of isolated oocytes and production of progesterone by porcine ovarian follicles from gonadotropin treated gilts have been studied in vitro. The addition of gonadotropins (2 I. U./ml, PMSG, HGC or 2 mg/ml FSH) to the culture medium resulted in increasing the number (84 - 90 %) of isolated oocytes which reached metaphase II. Expansion of the whole cumulus mass was observed only in media containing PMSG, whereas FSH or HCG alone did not cause these marked changes in the cumulus cells. Denudation of the eggs prior to culture gave no significant differences in the maturation rates between oocytes cultured in media with or without gonadotropins. In vitro maturation of follicle-enclosed oocytes took place only in HCG treated animals. Removing the ovary at 15 or 60 minutes after intravenous HCG administration induced oocyte maturation only in 22% and 17% respectively. A sharp increase in the number of oocytes which resume meiosis during follicle culture was observed 4 hours after HCG injection (84 %) and all of the oocytes of the gilts ovariectomized at 8 hours after HCG injection matured during the culture period. The progesterone production of isolated follicles from control gilts (only PMSG injected) increased slowly during a 96-hour culture period (from 48 to 240 ng progesterone/follicle), whereas the secretion of progesterone was drastically increased after a 15 minute interval between HCG injection and ovariectomy (from 42 to 950 ng progesterone/follicle). Follicles removed 24 hours after HCG injection showed a further increase in steroid production (2000 ng progesterone/follicle) and consistently secreted large amounts of progesterone during the culture period.     

Dichotomous effects of forskolin on somatic and germ cell components of the ovarian follicle: evidence of cAMP involvement in steroid production and action

The role of cyclic AMP (cAMP) in ovarian follicular functions in Rana pipiens was investigated with the use of the adenylate cyclase stimulator, forskolin, which is thought to elevate intracellular level of cAMP. Effects of forskolin on oocyte germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and on progesterone production by the follicles were assessed during the course of in vitro culture. Addition of forskolin to culture medium suppressed both progesterone-and frog pituitary homogenate (FPH)-induced meiotic maturation of the oocytes. Inhibitory effects of forskolin were essentially reversible and forskolin completely inhibited GVBD when added during the first four hours of incubation following exposure to progesterone. Forskolin alone stimulated a low level progesterone production by isolated follicles, but markedly stimulated progesterone production when it was supplemented with a low dose of FPH (0.005 pituitary equivalent/ml). Thus, forskolin acts synergistically with FPH on follicle cells to stimulate progesterone production. A higher dose of FPH (0.05 pitui. eq./ml) produced no additional synergistic effect of forskolin. Therefore, forskolin appears to have two contradictory functions in ovarian follicles: it augments FPH induced follicle secretion of meiosis initiator, progesterone, and simultaneously suppresses the maturation of the oocytes triggered by exogenous progesterone or FPH. The data presented indicate that there are two independent adenylate cyclase systems in the ovarian follicles which have separate functions: one in the follicle cells and the other in the oocyte. The two enzyme systems are thus compartmentalized and regulate different biological functions using the same messenger, cAMP. The data provide evidence that in amphibians, as in mammals, pituitary hormones regulate steroid hormone production by follicle cells via a cyclic AMP system. Thus, control of oocyte maturation induction appears to be determined by the relative levels of cAMP present in the follicle cells and oocytes.