绵羊卵泡成分对卵母细胞体外减数分裂调控的研究

哺乳动物卵巢中的卵母细胞一直处于减数分裂的停滞状态,卵泡内各成分被认为是产生抑制因子的主要来源。本研究以绵羊卵泡各成分为研究对象,用共培养的方法对卵丘细胞、颗粒细胞、膜细胞在卵母细胞体外减数分裂过程中的作用加以探讨。结果表明：1．卵泡整体及卵泡分泌物在体外可以有效地维持减数分裂停滞,经过24h培养,这两个处理组中,处于GV期的卵母细胞分别为69．6％和49．1％。经抑制处理后的卵母细胞脱离抑制环境后可以继发成熟,MⅡ比率可达88．9％。去掉卵丘细胞的裸卵其减数分裂过程不能被卵泡分泌物有效抑制,24h培养后其GV期比例为17．8％。以上结果说明卵泡中的抑制因子主要是通过卵丘细胞束发挥其调控作用的。2．用颗粒细胞与卵母细胞共培养,结果发现具有颗粒细胞卵丘细胞缝隙连接的卵母细胞(COCGs)在培养24小时后47．4％达到MⅡ,与在不具有细胞连接的总浮颗粒细胞中共培养的卵母细胞之间存在无显差异,无论是紧密连接的颗粒细胞层还是悬浮在培养液中的颗粒细胞都不能有效抑制生发泡破裂(GVBD)的发生,只能将卵母细胞抑制在MⅡ以前的各个时期。以上结果说明颗粒细胞在体外分泌抑制图子的活力大大下降。3．卵泡膜细胞具有分泌抑制成熟分裂因子的能力,与膜细胞层共培养的卵母细胞在8h和24h时,其GV期的比例为34．4％和32．7％,显高于没有膜细胞层的对照组(4．5％和1.1％)。综上所述,绵羊卵泡中的抑制因子不仅来自于颗粒细胞,而且膜细胞也参与了成熟分裂的抑制,这些细胞在体外仍具有分泌抑制因子的能力,只是与体内分泌能力有所不同。     

绵羊卵母细胞体外核成熟抑制及其对胚胎发育潜力的影响

本研究旨在探讨次黄嘌呤 +dbcAMP或IBMX +dbcAMP对绵羊卵母细胞体外成熟的可逆性抑制作用 ,以及这种抑制作用对卵母细胞胚胎发育潜力的影响。自绵羊卵巢分离卵丘 -卵母细胞复合物进行体外培养 ,培养基中分别加入或不加入上述抑制剂。培养 6h后各组取部分卵母细胞固定染色检查卵母细胞核成熟情况 ;将其余的卵母细胞分别移入无抑制剂的成熟培养基中继续培养 18h后 ,再次检查各组卵母细胞核成熟情况 ,并进行体外受精和胚胎培养。结果表明 :次黄嘌呤 +dbcAMP或IBMX +dbcAM都分别能使 6 0 %以上的绵羊卵母细胞抑制在GV期。这种抑制是可逆性的 ,去除抑制剂后卵母细胞能恢复减数分裂 ,并加快由GVBD到MⅡ的成熟过程。各处理组受精率、卵裂率和囊胚发育率与对照组相比无显著性差异 ,表明卵母细胞的胚胎发育潜力没有受损。上述物质对卵母细胞成熟的可逆性抑制可用于研究卵母细胞成熟及其胚胎发育潜力的调节机制。     

山羊卵母细胞的减数分裂进程

本实验以随机屠宰山羊的卵巢为实验材料,研究了不同直径卵泡卵母细胞的减数分裂进程。结果显示,不同直径卵泡卵母细胞在体外成熟培养条件下的减数分裂能力不同:≤0.5mm直径卵泡的卵母细胞不能恢复减数分裂;0.8-1.2mm卵泡的卵母细胞可恢复减数分裂,但只能发育到MⅠ期,培养24h发育到MⅠ期比率60%;1.5-5.0mm卵泡卵母细胞已经完全获得减数分裂能力,培养24h发育到MⅡ的比例91%。完全获得减数分裂能力的1.5-5.0mm卵泡卵母细胞处于生发泡(GV)期的比率在成熟培养2-8h期间明显下降;其中,4-6h期间GⅤ比率下降最为迅速(由61%降低到19%,p<0.0005);体外培养6-12h期间MⅠ比率由25%上升到60%,随后下降,到24h仅有2%卵母细胞处于MⅠ期;培养16h有21%卵母细胞进入MⅡ期,24h 91%卵母细胞到达MⅡ期。对卵母细胞体外核成熟进程的数据做折线图计算结果表明,1.5-5.0mm卵泡卵母细胞减数分裂进程(各细胞周期事件出现和维持的时间)为:0-3.0h为GⅤ期,3.0-7.0h为前中期Ⅰ,7.0-14.6h为MⅠ期,14.6-18.4h处于后期-Ⅰ和末期-Ⅰ,18.4-24h为MⅡ期。本实验还证明,部分获得减数分裂能力(0.8-1.2mm卵泡)与完全获得减数分裂能力(1.5-5mm卵泡)的卵母细胞,其各细胞周期事件一旦发生,所需的时间是相同的。这些结果为进一步研究山羊卵母细胞减数分裂机制及其调控提供了重要的基础数据。     

蛋白质合成抑制剂亚胺环己酮(CHX)对猪卵母细胞体外成熟的影响

研究了蛋白质合成抑制剂亚胺环己酮 (CHX)对猪卵母细胞体外成熟过程中的GVBD、染色质凝集、MⅡ期成熟及卵丘细胞扩展的作用。结果表明 :( 1)培养液中添加CHX ,可抑制卵母细胞GVBD的发生 ,而且此作用是浓度依赖性的 ,但CHX的抑制效果是完全可逆的 ;( 2 )在含 10 μg/mlCHX液中分别培养 0、 6、 12和 2 4h后转入正常培养液再继续培养至 4 8h ,卵母细胞成熟率分别为 84 1%、 77 1%、 4 8 9%和 2 7 8% ;( 3 )正常培养液中培养 0、 6、 12、 2 4、 3 6和 4 8h后 ,再转入浓度为 10 μg/mlCHX液中继续培养至 4 8h ,卵母细胞成熟率分别为 0、 0、 0、 3 1 3 %、 65 4 %和 79 5 % ;( 4 )CHX对卵丘细胞扩展的影响随培养时间延长而增强 ,在CHX中处理时间为 16h或更长 ,完全抑制卵丘细胞的扩展     

绵羊卵母细胞体外核成熟和抑制及其对胚胎发育潜力的影响

本研究旨在探讨次黄嘌呤＋dbcAMP或IBMX＋dbcAMP对绵羊卵母细胞体外成熟的可逆性抑制作用,以及这种抑制作用对卵母细胞胚胎发育潜力的影响。自绵羊卵巢分离卵丘－卵母细胞复合物进行体外培养,培养基中分别加入或不加入上述抑制剂。培养6h后各组取部分卵母细胞固定染色检查卵母细胞核成熟情况;将其余的卵母细胞分别移入无抑制剂的成熟培养基中继续培养18h后,再次检查各组卵母细胞核成熟情况,并进行体外受精和胚胎培养。结果表明,次黄嘌呤＋dbcAMP或IBMS＋dbcAM都分别能使60％以上的绵羊卵母细胞抑制在GV期。这种抑制是可行性的,去除抑制剂后卵母细胞能恢复减数分裂,并加快由GVBD到MⅡ的成熟过程。各处理组肥精率,卵裂率和囊胚发育率与对照组相比无显著性差异,表明卵母细胞的胚胎发育潜力没有受损。上述物质对卵母细胞成熟的可逆性抑制可用于研究卵母细胞成熟及其胚胎发育潜力的调节机制。     

山羊体外受精的研究

通过在山羊卵母细胞体外成熟培养液中添加不同的血清和不同浓度的卵泡液 ,在体外成熟培养液中培养不同的时间 ,以及采用不同的精子获能方法来摸索效率较高的体外受精方法体系。在山羊卵母细胞体外成熟培养液中添加FCS、EGS及不同浓度的卵泡液 ,成熟培养时间分别为 16、2 0、2 4和 2 7h ,山羊新鲜精液用钙离子载体法和肝素法进行获能处理后用于体外受精 ,比较其体外成熟率和体外受精率。添加FCS、EGS和 2 0 %卵泡液组的成熟率无显著差异 ,显著高于添加 10 %和 3 0 %卵泡液组的成熟率 ;但添加FCS和EGS组的受精率显著高于添加10 %、2 0 %、3 0 %卵泡液组的受精率。培养 2 4h组和 2 7h组的成熟率显著高于另外两组 ,而培养 2 7h组的受精率显著高于其余各组。用钙离子载体法处理的山羊精子的顶体反应率和体外受精率显著高于肝素法。EGS可以代替FCS添加于成熟培养液中 ,对COCs的成熟率和受精率没有明显的影响 ,但卵泡液不能完全代替FCS的作用。培养时间为 2 7h ,精子用钙离子载体法处理获能后能得到较高的体外受精率     

小鼠卵母细胞体外成熟、体外受精的效果观察

目的　研究不同培养条件对小鼠卵母细胞体外成熟及体外受精率的影响。方法　小鼠卵母细胞分别在含有FSH、BSA和胰岛素的培养液中体外成熟,在Whitten 氏液中体外受精,比较体外成熟率、体外受精率。结果　1- 裸卵(DO) 的体外成熟率、体外受精率(81-4% ,31-0 % ) 均高于卵丘卵母细胞复合体(COC)(48-6 % ,27-1% ) 。2- 在培养液中添加FSH、胰岛素和BSA,卵母细胞的体外成熟率为77-9 % ,82-3% 、60-7% ;体外受精率为77-2 % 、72-6 % 、26-7% ;2 - 细胞率为49-2 % 、34-2 % 、10-0% 。胰岛素组的卵母细胞IVM 率最高,但IVF率、2 - 细胞率低于FSH 组。3- 添加BSA的两组的体外受精率只有26-7 % 、25-8 % ,显著低于其他组,其体外成熟率也较添加FSH 和胰岛素的组成。4- 排出第一极体(PbI) 的卵母细胞的体外受精率和2 - 细胞率(85-9 % ,22-4% ) 均高于GV期卵母细胞(71-1 % ,12-9 % ) 。结论　1- 卵丘卵母细胞(COC) 较裸卵(DO) 的体外成熟率、体外受精率都低,差异显著(P成熟< 0-01;P受精< 0-05) 。2-FSH 和胰岛素均能提高小鼠卵母细胞的体外成熟率、体外受精率。3-BSA可以降低小鼠卵母细胞体外受精率,差异极显著。4-GV 期卵母细胞的体外受精率显著低于体外培养的排出第一极体的卵母细胞(P2 - cell < 0-05,P受精<0-05)     

不同年龄昆明白小鼠卵母细胞的生发泡互换

为探讨卵母细胞减数分裂异常及其与年龄相关变化之间的关系,对不同年龄段昆明白小鼠卵母细胞进行了生发泡(GV)移植研究。应用显微操作和电融合技术,将6~8周龄小鼠GV期卵母细胞分别与6月龄9、月龄和12月龄小鼠GV期卵母细胞进行GV互换,所形成的6种GV-胞质体复合体的融合率(89.7%~95.6%)和6种重组卵母细胞的成熟率(83.5%~88.2%)并不因小鼠年龄的改变而有所变化。成熟的6种重组卵母细胞经体外受精后,形成原核期胚和2-细胞期胚的比率(分别为80.0%~87.3%和42.7%~50.9%)并不因不同年龄小鼠卵母细胞GV互换所带来的细胞质或细胞核的改变而受到影响。     

TGFα、EGF对绵羊卵母细胞成熟的影响

采用地衣红染色和免疫荧光的方法,观察了培养在基础培养液加BSA、血清、BSA EGF和BSA TGFα四组成熟培养液中绵羊卵母细胞的核成熟状态和α-微管蛋白分布,以及成熟培养后皮质颗粒(CG)的分布情况。结果表明培养22h的上述各组卵母细胞的核成熟率分别为63.5%、75.2%、73.1%、69.8%,处于第一次减数分裂末期的比率分别为27.0%、16.3%、15.9%、16.9%,EGF、TGFα和血清的添加明显提高了核的成熟率(P<0.05),显著减少了处于第一减数分裂末期的比例(P<0.05);α-微管蛋白的正常率(66.6%、66.6%、73.6%)也显著高于BSA组(43.3%)(P<0.05);CG发生迁移较好的卵母细胞比率分别为33.9%、58.8%、54.7%、47.9%,与BSA组相比,EGF和血清的添加明显促进了CG向皮质区的迁移(P<0.05)。实验表明TGFα和EGF均促进了绵羊卵母细胞成熟过程中从第一减数分裂末期向第二减数分裂中期的转变,并且能够替代血清中的某些成分促进和改善体外成熟卵母细胞核成熟的质量,EGF比TGFα更能促进绵羊卵母细胞胞质的成熟。     

腺嘌呤对体外小鼠卵母细胞减数分裂的抑制

本文研究了嘌呤类物质对小鼠卵母细胞减数分裂的影响。于卵母细胞的生发泡内显微注射腺嘌呤和腺嘌呤的类似物苄基腺嘌呤可显著抑制卵母细胞的分裂的重新启动。同时发现在腺嘌呤的作用过程中,腺苷酸环化酶的激活剂氟化钠可增强其对卵母细胞的抑制作用,表明cAMP途径在小鼠卵母细胞减数分裂成熟过程中起重要作用。腺嘌呤在不同培养液中的抑制效果不一,次黄嘌呤在DMEM和EMEM中对小鼠的卵丘细胞-卵母细胞复合体(COC)和无卵丘细胞的裸卵(DO)均具有明显的抑制效应。但腺嘌呤在DMEM比在EMEM中对COC的抑制效果更强,而且腺嘌呤在DMEM中与次黄嘌呤具有协同效应,这些差别可能是由于两种培养液中不同成分如谷氨酰胺造成卵母细胞对腺嘌呤吸收差异而引起的。     

Hypoxanthine (HX) inhibition of in vitro meiotic resumption in goat oocytes

To improve in vitro maturation and to understand the mechanism for meiotic resumption of oocytes, meiotic progression, and its control by hypoxanthine (HX) were studied in goat oocytes. Ovaries were obtained from a local abattoir, and cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) and follicular fluid were collected from follicles of different surface diameters (SDs). The meiotic competence and progression of oocytes were observed, and the concentration of HX in the follicular fluid and culture media was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Full meiotic competence of goat oocytes was acquired in follicles of >/=1.5 mm in SD with 90% of the oocytes developing to metaphase II (MII) stage after 24 hr in culture. The HX concentration in follicular fluid decreased with follicle development, from the highest level of 1.16 mM in /=5 mm follicles. HX inhibited meiotic resumption of goat oocytes in a concentration-related manner but this inhibitory effect declined gradually. When we renewed the medium at 4 hr of HX-199 (TCM-199 supplemented with 4 mM HX) culture, the percentage of oocytes with intact germinal vesicle (GV) did not increase but decreased significantly instead. HPLC measurement of HX in the HX-199 culture drops indicated that the HX concentration declined from 0 hr to 4 hr of culture and after medium renewal at 4 hr of culture. By adding dibutyryl cAMP (db-cAMP) at medium renewal, we found that db-cAMP held up the decline of GV percentages. Together, these results were consistent with the possibility that the decline of HX inhibitory effect was not due to HX depletion but rather due to the negative feedback of the metabolites on its further uptake by oocytes. Goat oocytes were capable of normal nuclear maturation and activation after temporal arrest by HX, but prolonged exposure to HX induced spontaneous activation.     

Effects of harvest methods of bovine oocytes co-cultured with follicular hemisections in vitro on nuclear maturation

This study was undertaken to evaluate the in vitro response of bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) to follicular cells based on 2 COC harvest periods (1 and 6 h after slaughter) and 2 harvest methods (puncturing and mincing). In Experiment 1, the nuclear maturation stage of oocytes was analyzed following harvest and again prior to in vitro culture. More than 95% of the oocytes were at the germinal vesicle stage (GV stage). In Experiment 2, COC were cultured in vitro inside follicular hemisections for 24 h and the percentage of oocytes at the GV stage was the same regardless of the harvest period. In Experiment 3, COC were harvested 6 h following slaughter using the 2 methods and then cultured for 24 h inside follicular hemisections; again, the percentage of oocytes at the GV stage was not statistically different (P>0.05). In a follow up experiment, the culture medium was supplemented with LH (5.0 microg/ml) and the percentage of oocytes maintained at the GV stage did not decrease. These results indicate that COC response to inhibitory factor(s) produced by follicular cells is not influenced by harvest time, harvest method or LH supplementation.     

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)     

In vitro inhibition of oocyte nuclear maturation in the bovine

Bovine follicular oocytes (N = 5991) were exposed to an analog of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP), dibutyryl cyclic AMP (db-cAMP) (2.5, 5, and 10 mM), the phosphodiesterase inhibitor isobutyl methyl xanthine (IBMX, 0.2 mM), or the purine, hypoxanthine (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mM), and the nucleoside, adenosine (0.05, 0.1, 0.2 mM), for 6 or 21 h to assess their effects on oocyte nuclear maturation. Potential effects of bovine follicular fluid (BFF) were also evaluated after different preculture washing procedures. In a separate experiment, denuded oocytes were used to study the effect of cumulus removal on meiotic inhibition. Db-cAMP decreased the frequency of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) at 6 h (88% for control and 51%, 45%, and 32% for 2.5, 5, and 10 mM concentrations, respectively). IBMX had a comparable effect with only 41% of the oocytes resuming meiosis. Hypoxanthine and adenosine alone or in combinations also decreased the number of oocytes undergoing GVBD at 6 h. Only 22% GVBD occurred when the combined highest concentration of both substances was used compared to 88% in controls. If oocytes were incubated in 50% BFF after a wash in control medium during processing, 56% would resume meiosis at 6 h vs. 35% if the washing procedure included inhibitors (db-cAMP + IBMX). Total BFF (100%) during washing and maturation prevented 72% of the oocytes from resuming meiosis. Db-cAMP and IMBX combined or BFF also inhibited meiotic resumption of denuded oocytes. At 21 h, the inhibitory effects were less pronounced, with most oocytes only delayed in completing the first reduction division.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The influence of cumulus-oocyte complex morphology and meiotic inhibitors on the kinetics of nuclear maturation in cattle

This study evaluated whether pre-established morphological classes of bovine cumulus oocyte complex (COCs) differ in their kinetics of meiosis resumption after 4 h of incubation and whether the timing of COCs resumption of meiosis differed after a period of maintained meiotic arrest. Bovine COCs were aspirated from 2- to 5- mm follicles and classified according to the state of their cumulus cells and cytoplasm (Classes 1 to 3). Groups of 15 to 20 COCs were fixed at 0 h or after an incubation period of 4 h. In addition, COCs from Class 1 were first incubated for 4 h on a theca cell monolayer or in the presence of 2 microg/mL of cycloheximide, rinsed and then incubated in cycloheximide and theca cell-free medium for another 4 h. Oocytes then were fixed and evaluated for state of nuclear maturation. Results show that at 0 h, COCs from Class 3 have fewer oocytes at the GV stage than COCs from Class 1 and Class 2 (respectively 69.3+/-3.2 vs 88.8+/-3.4% and 86.9% GV+/-4.3% SEM; P < 0.05). After 4 h of incubation, all COCs classes show a significant decrease in the number of COCs at the GV stage. The COCs maintained in meiotic arrest and then incubated for 4 h resume meiosis faster than COCs incubated in cycloheximide and theca cell-free medium (19.4+/-2.5, 33.3+/-7.3 and 59.9+/-6.5% GV SEM, respectively). The COCs of Class 3 have fewer oocytes at the GV stage at the beginning of incubation than all other classes. The number of COCs at the GV stage after 4 h of incubation in cycloheximide and theca cell-free medium is not significantly different than those COCs incubated in the presence of theca cell monolayers for 24 h (58.8+/-6.5 vs. 56.4+/-6.4% SEM; respectively). Our results indicate that the ability of theca cells to maintain oocytes at the GV stage could be limited to those oocytes that were not committed or primed in vivo to resume maturation as indicated by their faster maturation kinetics.     

A follicular fluid component prevents gonadotropin reversal of cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent meiotic arrest in murine oocytes

The effects of the putative maturation inhibitor in porcine follicular fluid on gonadotropinstimulated reversal of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-maintained meiotic arrest in mouse oocytes in vitro were assessed in this study. When cumulus cell-enclosed oocytes were cultured in a suboptimal inhibitory concentration of dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP), the effect of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) on oocyte maturation was initially inhibitory at 3 hr, but stimulatory at 6 hr. Supplementation of the medium with an ultrafiltrate of porcine follicuiar fluid (PM10-filtrate) completely suppressed FSH-promoted reversal of inhibition at 6 hr. Charcoal extraction eliminated this effect of the PM10-filtrate. FSH reversed the inhibition of maturation of cumulus cell-enclosed oocytes maintained by a high concentration of dbcAMP and suboptimal concentrations of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, 3-isobutyl-1-methyl xanthine (IBMX), during a 21–22-hr culture period. However, the effect of a completely inhibitory concentration of IBMX was not reversed by gonadotropin. A component of serum was also found to inhibit FSH reversal of dbcAMP-maintained meiotic arrest, and this activity was removed by charcoal extraction. In addition, when oocytes were cultured in medium containing a suboptimal concentration of dbcAMP plus a low molecular weight fraction (< 1,000) of porcine follicular fluid, porcine serum, or fetal bovine serum, a synergistic inhibition of maturation was observed. Experiments with highly purified gonadotropins revealed that reversal of dbcAMP-maintained meiotic arrest occurred only in response to FSH; neither highly purified luteinizing hormone nor human chorionic gonadotropin could mimic this action of FSH. Also, this effect was mediated by the cumulus cells, since FSH could not reverse dbcAMP-maintained meiotic arrest in denuded oocytes. Furthermore, elevating cAMP levels in denuded oocytes augmented, rather than reversed, the inhibitory action of dbcAMP on oocyte maturation. These data therefore suggest that dbcAMP- or IBMX-maintained meiotic arrest in vitro is reversed by an FSH-stimulated, cAMP-dependent process mediated by the cumulus cells and demonstrate that a factor present both in follicular fluid and serum prevents this action of the gonadotropin.     

Pure preovulatory follicular fluid promotes in vitro maturation of in vivo aspirated equine oocytes

In the mare, rates of fertilization and development are low in oocytes matured in vitro, and a closer imitation of in vivo conditions during oocyte maturation might be beneficial. The aims of the present study were, therefore, to investigate whether (1) equine oocytes can be matured in vitro in pure equine preovulatory follicular fluid, (2) priming of the follicular fluid donor with crude equine gonadotrophins (CEG) before aspiration of preovulatory follicular fluid promotes the in vitro maturation rate, (3) the in vitro maturation rate differs between oocytes aspirated during estrus and those aspirated again 8 days after the initial follicular aspiration, and (4) high follicular concentrations of meiosis activating sterols (MAS) are beneficial for in vitro maturation of equine oocytes. During estrus, 19 pony mares were treated with 25 mg CEG. After 24 h (Al) and again after 8 days (A2), all follicles >4mm were aspirated and incubated individually for 30 h in the following culture media: standard culture medium (SM), preovulatory follicular fluid collected before CEG containing low MAS concentrations (FF1), preovulatory follicular fluid collected before CEG containing high MAS concentrations (FF2) or preovulatory follicular fluid collected 35 h after administration of CEG containing low MAS concentrations (FF3). Cumulus expansion rate was significantly affected by culture medium. The overall nuclear maturation rate was significantly higher for oocytes collected at A1 (67%) than for oocytes collected at A2 (30%). For oocytes collected at A1, the maturation rates were 71% (FF1), 61% (FF2), 79% (FF3) and 56% (SM). An electrophoretic protein analysis of the culture media revealed the presence of a 200-kDa protein in FF3. The results demonstrate that (1) equine oocytes can be matured during culture in pure equine preovulatory follicular fluid, (2) preovulatory follicular fluid collected after gonadotrophin-priming seems superior in supporting in vitro maturation than standard culture medium, (3) oocytes aspirated 8 days after a previous aspiration are less competent for in vitro maturation than oocytes recovered during the initial aspiration, and (4) the regulation of meiotic resumption during in vitro culture of equine oocytes might be related to the presence of a 200-kDa protein.     

Effects of cycloheximide on chromatin condensations and germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) of cumulus-enclosed and denuded oocytes in cattle

To determine if newly synthesized protein is imperative for the resumption of meiosis in bovine follicular oocytes collected from small antral follicles, cumulus-enclosed and denuded oocytes were cultured in TCM-199 both with and without various concentrations of the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide. After 11 h of culture in inhibitor-free medium, all oocytes had undergone germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). However, when concentrations of more than 1.0 mug/ml cycloheximide were added to the medium, the meiotic resumption of bovine oocytes was completely blocked. This inhibitory effect of cycloheximide was fully reversible after removal of the inhibitor from maturation media. Germinal vesicle breakdown following removal of cycloheximide occurred twice as fast as in the control medium. Nevertheless, when oocytes were arrested at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage by cycloheximide, a significantly higher proportion of chromatin condensation (40 to 57%) was observed in denuded oocytes than in cumulus-enclosed oocytes (11 to 22%). Thus the cycloheximide treatment could not prevent the chromatin condensation in only denuded oocytes. We conclude that protein synthesis is a prerequisite for GVBD in bovine follicular oocytes and that cumulus cells are responsible for the complementary regulation of the chromatin condensation at the GV stage, regardless of protein synthesis in the oocytes.     

Maintenance of meiotic arrest and developmental potential of porcine oocytes after parthenogenetic activation and somatic cell nuclear transfer

Several studies report that meiotic maturation of porcine oocytes can be reversibly preserved. The present study examined how long meiotic maturation can be suppressed. The first experiment determined the preservation medium suitable for reversibly suppressing meiotic maturation of porcine oocytes. The second experiment examined the in vitro developmental potential of oocytes maintained in meiotic arrest after parthenogenetic activation and nuclear transfer of somatic cells. Preservation of cumulus-oocyte complexes with NCSU-37 medium containing 10% follicular fluid, 1 mM dibutyryl cyclic AMP, and follicular shell pieces for 24-96 h at 39 degrees C did not affect oocyte maturation compared with controls (94-98% vs. 98%). The potential of parthenogenetically activated and nuclear-transferred oocytes maintained in meiotic arrest for 24-48 h to develop into blastocysts was not significantly different from that of controls (20-25% vs. 18% and 8-11% vs. 9%, respectively). The present study demonstrated that meiotic maturation of porcine oocytes can be suppressed after preservation for 48 h at 39 degrees C without decreasing oocyte maturation competence or the ability of oocytes to develop to at least the blastocyst stage.     

The effects of follicular fluid on in vitro maturation, oocyte fertilization and the development of bovine embryos

We determined the effects of follicular fluid in the maturation medium on bovine oocyte maturation, fertilization and subsequent development, as well as on the number of cells in blastocysts following culture. Fluid and oocytes from bovine follicles less than 5 mm in diameter were collected from the ovaries of slaughtered cows. For the maturation medium, follicular fluid at concentrations of 10, 30 or 60% (v/v) was added to Medium 199 with Earle's salts supplemented with 0.1 microg/ml estradiol-17 beta (E(2), Experiment 1) or 0.1 microg/ml E2 and 100 IU/ml hCG (Experiment 2). The control medium contained polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP; 3 mg/ml) instead of follicular fluid. After maturation for 24 h, oocytes were fertilized in vitro with bull frozen-thawed spermatozoa and cultured on a monolayer of granulosa cells for 9 d. There were no differences in maturation or fertilization rates of oocytes. In Experiment 1, maturation medium containing 10% follicular fluid did not affect the developmental rate of the oocytes to > 2-cell, 8 to 16-cell, blastocyst and hatched blastocyst stage embryos, respectively; whereas 60% decreased embryonic development (P < 0.05) compared with the control. Blastocysts and hatched blastocysts developed from fertilized oocytes which had been matured in medium containing 10 and 30% follicular fluid/E(2) had more cells than the controls (P < 0.01). In Experiment 2, maturation medium containing 10 or 30% follicular fluid did not affect the development fertilized oocytes to the blastocyst stage compared with the control, but decreased at 60% (P < 0.01). There were no differences in the number of cells from Day 9 blastocysts and hatched blastocysts from fertilized oocytes matured in maturation medium containing follicular fluid and E(2) + hCG. The results of these experiments suggest that the addition of bovine follicular fluid to the maturation medium enhances the cell numbers in blastocysts from bovine follicular oocytes matured in vitro.