PKC,PKA和TPK在血小板激活中的作用

利用＾３２Ｐ－ＮａＨ２ＰＯ４标记猪血小板,然后,以ＰＭＡ,凝血酶,ＰＧＥ１腺苷等处理,结果表明,随着ＰＭＡ激活ＰＫＣ,血小板发生聚集,３５μｍｏｌ／ＬＰＧＥ１或１ｍｍｏｌ／ＬｄｂｃＡＭＰ不能抑制５０ｎｍｏｌ／ＬＰＭＡ诱导的血小板聚集,腺苷却能抑制ＰＭＡ诱导的血小板聚集（ＥＣ５０＝０．１ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ,ｄｂ－ｃＡＭＰ,腺苷都不能抑制１００ｎｍｏｌ／ＬＰＭＡ诱导的４０ｋＤ蛋白磷酸化,ＰＫＡ激活不能抑制Ｐ     

褪黑素对大鼠海马神经元谷氨酸所致毒性的拮抗作用

在大鼠海马脑片上电刺激Ｓｃｈａｆｆｅｒ 侧支纤维, 胞外记录ＣＡ１ 区锥体细胞层诱发群体锋电位（ｐｏｐｕｌａｔｉｏｎ ｓｐｉｋｅ,ＰＳ） , 观察灌流谷氨酸（Ｇｌｕ） 和褪黑素（ＭＥＬ） 对ＰＳ的影响。结果显示：５－０ ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ浓度的Ｇｌｕ 可使ＰＳ值下降至对照值的４－１ ％ ; ＭＥＬ（０－４ 、０－５ 和０－６ μｍｏｌ／Ｌ） 与５－０ ｍｍｏｌ／ＬＧｌｕ 混合给药,ＰＳ值分别变化为对照值的１４－７ ％ 、１０５－２％ 、２４－３ ％ ; ＭＥＬ（０－５ μｍｏｌ／Ｌ） 、Ｇｌｕ （５－０ ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ） , 与赛庚啶（ＣＤＰ,０－５ μｍｏｌ／Ｌ） 混合给药,ＰＳ值下降至０ 。上述结果提示,５－０ ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ浓度的Ｇｌｕ 有神经毒性作用, 但可为ＭＥＬ拮抗, 这可能由５ＨＴ受体所介导。     

银王亮丝草的试管微繁殖

１植物名称银王亮丝草（Ａｇｌａｏｎｅｍａ　ｃｏｍ－ｍｕｔａｔｕｍｃｖ．"ＳｉｌｖｅｒＫｉｎｇ”）,又名银王粗肋草、银王万年青、银皇帝。２材料类别带腋芽的茎段。３培养条件以ＭＳ为基本培养基。芽诱导培养基附加６－ＢＡ２．０～２．５ｍｇ·Ｌ－１（单位下同）;芽增殖培养基附加６－ＢＡ４．０～４．５及ＮＡＡ０．０１～０．０２;生根培养基采用３／４ＭＳ附加ＩＢＡ３．０～３．５及ＧＡ３３,０。所有培养基蔗糖及琼脂含量分别为３％和０．７５％,ｐＨ值均调至５．８。培养温度２６～２８℃,光照８～１０ｈ·ｄ－１,光照…     

大叶紫花苜蓿愈伤组织原生质体再生植株

大叶紫花苜蓿下胚轴诱导的愈伤组织在继代培养基上生长快速,易于分散。继代第１２ｄ的愈伤组织原生质体的得率为６．５×１０７／ｇ鲜重。原生质体培养基为ＳＨ基本培养基,含有１．０ｍｇ／Ｌ２,４－０、０．５ｍｇ／ＬＢＡ、２．０ｇ／ＬＣＨ、２％蔗糖、６％葡萄糖、５ｍｍｏｌ／ＬＭＥＳ,培养密度为１．０×１０５／ｍＬ。培养至第１２ｄ时的原生质体再生细胞植板率为３．７％。由原生质体形成的小愈伤组织在含２．０ｍｇ／Ｌ２,４－Ｄ的ＭＳ固体培养基上大量增殖。增殖的愈伤组织转移至２．０ｍｇ／Ｌ２－ｉｐ＋０．１ｍｇ／ＬＮＡＡ的Ｂ５培养基上,形成体细胞胚并发育成完整植株。     

百草枯和苯甲酸钠对渗透胁迫下抗旱性不同玉米品种愈伤组织的影响

两个品种玉米愈伤组织经０．５和５ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ的百草枯处理３ｈ后,在渗透胁迫下处理２４ｈ电解质泄漏率增加;Ｈ２Ｏ２和ＭＤＡ积累;ＡｓＡ和ＣＡＲ含量的减少加剧。０．５和５ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ的苯甲酸钠减轻渗透胁迫诱导的氧化伤害,促进ＣＡＴ活性的增加;使ＳＯＤ、ＧＲ、ＡＰ和ＰＯＤ能维持较高的活性;ＡｓＡ和ＣＡＲ含量降低的幅度减小。     

决明组织培养的研究

以草决明无菌苗子叶为外植体,接种于７类诱导愈伤组织的培养基上：Ａ．ＭＳ＋２．０２,４－Ｄｍｇ／Ｌ（以下单位省略）＋０．３ＢＡ＋０．２ＮＡＡ．Ｂ．ＭＳ＋０．２２,４－Ｄ十０．２ＢＡ＋２．０ＮＡＡ．Ｃ．ＭＳ＋１．０２,４－Ｄ＋０．５ＢＡ＋０．２ＫＴ．Ｄ．ＭＳ＋０．７ＢＡ＋１．５ＮＡＡ＋０．１ＫＴ．Ｅ．ＭＳ＋１．５２,４－Ｄ＋０．７ＢＡ十０．２ＭＡＡ．Ｆ．ＭＳ＋０．４２．４－Ｄ＋１．０ＮＡＡ＋０．１ＫＴ．Ｇ．ＭＳＢ（ＭＳ的无机成份和Ｂ５有机成分）＋０．１５ＮＡＡ＋ＢＡ,ＫＴ和ＺＴ各０．５。８～１５天后分别有９０～９９．６％的子叶片被诱导出愈伤组织,并且Ｆ．与Ｃ．类培养基对诱导愈伤组织比较理想,放于Ｇ培养基上的愈伤组织有９．２～３０．２％的芽分化率。芽在生根培养基１／２ＭＳ＋０．２ＩＢＡ中、９８％生根,形成完整的再生植株。     

百脉根愈伤组织原生质体再生植株

百脉根无菌苗幼茎在含２．０ｍｇ／Ｌ－,２,４－Ｄ,０．１ｍｇ／Ｌ２－ｉｐ的ＭＳ培养基上诱导和继代培养愈伤组织。选取绿色松散颗粒愈伤组织分离原生质体。原生质体培养在调整珠ＫＭ８Ｐ,Ｖ－ＫＭ,ＭＳ和ＳＨ培养基上「含３００ｍｇ／Ｌ,ＣＨ,２％ＣＷ,２％蔗糖,６％葡萄糖,２．０ｍｇ／Ｌ,２,４－Ｄ,０．５ｍｇｇ／Ｌ,ＢＡ,５ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ ＭＥＳ」,原生质体再生细胞均能分裂,并形成小愈伤组织,但以ＫＭ８０为     

党参原生质体再生植株

党参下胚轴愈伤组织原生质体在附加１．２ｍｇ／Ｌ２,４－Ｄ,０．２ｍｇ／Ｌ ＮＡＡ,０．２ｍｇ／Ｌ ＢＡＰ和０．１ｍｇ／Ｌ ＺＴ的ＭＳ,Ｃ８１Ｖ,ＤＰＤ及ＫＭ８ｐ培养基中进行液体体层培养。在ＫＭ８ｐ中获得了最高的分裂频率。葡萄糖作渗透剂优于甘露醇,两结合使用效果更好。在合适的条件下,原生质体培养３天出现第１次分裂,４周内形成大细胞团,培养６周后形成０．５－１．０ｍｍ大小的小愈伤组织。在附加２％蔗糖     

PKC、PKA和TPK在血小板激活中的作用

利用~（３２）Ｐ－ＮａＨ_２ＰＯ_４标记猪血小板,然后以ＰＭＡ、凝血酶、ＰＧＥ_１、腺苷等处理,结果表明,随着ＰＭＡ激活ＰＫＣ,血小板发生聚集。３５μｍｏｌ／ＬＰＧＥ_１或１ｍｍｏｌ／ＬｄｂｃＡＭＰ不能抑制５０ｎｍｏｌ／ＬＰＭＡ诱导的血小板聚集,腺苷却能抑制ＰＭＡ诱导的血小板聚集（ＥＣ_（５０）＝０．１ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ）,ｄｂ－ｃＡＭＰ、腺苷都不能抑制１００ｎｍｏｌ／ＬＰＭＡ诱导的４０ｋＤ蛋白磷酸化。ＰＫＡ激活不能抑制ＰＭＡ激活的ＰＫＣ。在ＰＭＡ、凝血酶激活的血小板中,ＰＫＣ、ＴＰＫ都发生激活,４０ｋＤ底物既是ＰＫＣ的底物又是ＴＰＫ的底物,ＰＫＣ和ＴＰＫ在血小板聚集中起着重要的调节作用。     

褐黑素对大鼠海马神经元谷氨酸所致毒性的拮抗作用

在大鼠海马脑片上电刺激Ｓｃｈａｆｆｅｒ侧支纤维,胞外记录ＣＡ１区锥体细胞层诱发群体锋电位,观察灌流谷氨酸和褪黑素对ＰＳ的影响。结果显示：５．０ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ浓度的Ｇｌｕ可使ＰＳ值下降至对照值的４．１％;ＭＥ（０．４、０．５和０．６μｍｏｌ／Ｌ）一５．０ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ浓度的Ｇｌｕ可使ＰＳ值下降至对照值的１４．７％、１０５．２％、２４．３％;ＭＥＬ、Ｇｌｕ,与赛庚啶混合给药,ＰＳ值下降至０。上述结果提示。     

乙醇及6-DMAP对小鼠卵母细胞孤雌激活的研究

实验研究了乙醇、6-DMAP以及二者联合使用时对注射hCG后18小时采集的小鼠卵母细胞孤雌激活的效果。结果证明:(1)用5％的乙醇分别作用5和10分钟及10％的乙醇分别作用5和10分钟,小鼠卵母细胞的孤雌激活率分别为41.3％、63.7％、57.9％和85.6％。说明在一定范围内,随着乙醇浓度和作用时间的增加,小鼠卵母细胞孤雌激活率有上升的趋势。(2)用2mM 6-DMAP作用2、4和6小时,小鼠卵母细胞的孤雌激活率分别为 12.0％、25.0％和40.0％。说明随着6-DMAP作用时间的增加,小鼠卵母细胞的孤雌激活率有所升高。(3)用5％乙醇作用5分钟,再用含有2mmol/L 6-DMAP的培养液培养6小时,小鼠卵母细胞的孤雌激活率可达65.5％,明显高于单独使用5％乙醇作用5分钟或单独使用2mmol/L 6-DMAP作用6小时卵母细胞的孤雌激活率。(4)用10％的乙醇作用5分钟,再用含有2mmol/L 6-DMAP的培养液培养6小时,小鼠卵母细胞的孤雌激活率达到100％,远远高于单独使用10％乙醇作用5分钟或单独使用2mmol/L 6-DMAP作用6小时卵母细胞的孤雌激活率。(5)在单独使用乙醇刺激时,激活卵母细胞中直接卵裂(2-细胞)的比率随乙醇作用强度的增加而增加,最高达62.5％;但6-DMAP则抑制激活卵母细胞的直接卵裂,增加二原核卵的比例。     

In vitro and in vivo developmental competence of dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) oocytes following in vitro fertilization or parthenogenetic activation

Parthenogenetic activation of the oocyte represents an important step in the somatic cloning. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness (in term of in vitro development) of different methods of parthenogenetic activation of dromedary oocytes. Selected cumulus-oocytes-complexes (n=1264) collected by follicular aspiration from ovaries obtained postmortem were matured in vitro (IVM) for 30 h then divided randomly into seven groups and submitted to artificial activation. Two groups were preactivated with 25 microM of calcium ionophore (CaI) for 20 min then incubated for 4h with either 2mM 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) (group 1, n=202) or with 10 microg/mL cycloheximide (CHX) (group 2, n=194). Group 3 (n=172) and group 4 (n=184), oocytes were pretreated with 5 microM ionomycin (Iono) for 5 min then incubated with either 2mM 6-DMAP or 10 microg/mL cycloheximide for 4h, respectively. Group 5 (n=161) and group 6 (n=155) oocytes were preactivated with electrical stimulation (ES) then activated with either 2mM 6-DMAP or 10 microg/mL cycloheximide for 4h, respectively. Group 7 (n=196) oocytes were submitted to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and served as a control. All groups containing oocytes were cultured in vitro following activation or IVF, at 38.5 degrees C under 5% CO(2) in air with >95% humidity. The in vitro development rates of dromedary oocytes exposed to 6-DMAP after CaI (61%), ES (74%) and the IVF group (71%) were similar and significantly greater (P<0.05) than other treatments (10% for group 2, 47% for group 3, 27% for group 4 and 41% for group 6). The blastocyst developmental rate was better (P<0.05) in parthenotes following activation with Iono/6-DMAP (21%) compared to activation with Iono/CHX (12%). However, all were less than that achieved in the IVF group (35%). We conclude that parthenogenetic activation of camel oocytes with 6-DMAP is more effective than activation with CHX for all pre-treatments tested (CaI, Iono or ES). The viability of activated (n=15) or IVF (n=10) hatched-dromedary embryos was examined by transfer to synchronized recipients. An embryonic vesicle was seen by ultrasonography at 15 days post transfer in four females (CaI/6-DMAP: 1/5; 20%, IVF: 3/10; 30%). The only pseudopregnancy obtained with an activated embryo resorbed at 25 days. One of the females receiving the IVF produced embryos aborted at 2 months and the other two females carried to term and gave birth to healthy calves (one female and one male). This study shows that artificial activation of dromedary oocytes with CaI/6-DMAP or ES/6-DMAP is more effective than other treatments in terms of in vitro embryo development. This provides efficient activation conditions which may lead to the development of the somatic cell nuclear transfer procedure in dromedary.     

Improved parthenogenetic development of vitrified-warmed bovine oocytes activated with 9% ethanol plus 6-DMAP

The objective was to compare various activation protocols on developmental potential of vitrified bovine oocytes. Bovine oocytes matured in vitro for 23 h were vitrified with EDFSF30 in open pulled straws. After warming, they were cultured in vitro for 1 h, followed by parthenogenetic activation. Vitrified-warmed oocytes had a morphologically normal rate similar to that of controls (nonvitrified oocytes cultured in vitro for 24 h; 98.6% vs. 100%, P > 0.05). When vitrified-warmed oocytes were first activated with 7% ethanol for 5 min and then incubated in 6-dimethylaminopurin (6-DMAP) for 4 h, cleavage and blastocyst rates were 41.2% and 23.2%, respectively, which were lower than those of controls (77.5% and 42.0%, P < 0.05). Subsequently, we varied the ethanol concentration to increase the effectiveness of parthenogenetic activation. When either 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, or 11% ethanol alone (for 5 min) or in combination with 6-DMAP (4 h) was used to activate vitrified-warmed oocytes, cleavage rates ranged from 22.3% to 61.1% and blastocyst rates ranged from 1.1% to 30.6%. These rates were optimized when oocytes were treated with 9% ethanol plus 6-DMAP; this was verified in experiments evaluating other activation protocols with 9% ethanol, calcium ionophore A23187, or ionomycin alone, or in combination with DMAP or cycloheximide (CHX). In conclusion, the oocyte activation protocol affected developmental capacity of vitrified bovine oocytes; 9% ethanol (5 min) followed by 6-DMAP (4 h) promoted optimal parthenogenetic activation.     

Parthenogenetic development of porcine oocytes treated by ethanol, cycloheximide, cytochalasin B and 6-dimethylaminopurine

This study was carried out to investigate the various concentrations and exposure times of ethanol, one of many intracellular calcium elevating agents, and a sequential combination of ethanol (8%), cycloheximide (CHX, 10 microg/ml), cytochalasin B (CCB, 7.5 microg/ml) and 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP, 2 mM) to improve parthenogenetic activation and development of in vitro matured porcine oocytes. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were matured in tissue culture medium (TCM) 199 for 44 h at 38.5 degrees C, 5% CO2 in air. Cumulus-free oocytes showing first polar body were activated by concentrations of 0, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10% ethanol for 10 min and exposure times of 0, 5, 8, 10, 12 and 15 min with 8% ethanol in HEPES buffered (25 mM) NCSU-23 medium. Also, oocytes were activated with the NCSU-23 medium containing 8% ethanol for 10 min. After that, oocytes were incubated in the NCSU-23 medium supplemented with CHX, CCB, 6-DMAP, CHX + CCB, CHX + 6-DMAP, CCB + 6-DMAP and CHX + CCB + 6-DMAP for 3h, respectively. Following activation, oocytes were transferred into the NCSU-23 medium containing 0.4% BSA for further culture of 20 and 144 h at 38.5 degrees C, 5% CO2 in air. The activation rates of oocytes were higher in 6, 7 and 8% ethanol concentrations compared with 0, 5, 9 and 10% ethanol concentrations. Significantly, more oocytes (29.3-33.7%) were activated in the exposure for 8, 10, 12 and 15 min than those in the exposure for 0 and 5 min, but there was no difference due to exposure to 8% ethanol for 8-15 min. Oocytes treated by chemical agents (40.5-70.5%) after exposure to ethanol significantly improved the rate of oocyte activation compared with ethanol alone (31.2%). The percentage of cleaved oocytes was higher in the ethanol+CHX+CCB+6-DMAP treatment (66.4%) than in other treatments (24.9-57.6%). Also, the rate of blastocyst formation was higher in the ethanol+CHX+CCB+6-DMAP treatment (25.0%) than in other treatments (0.0-19.3%). In conclusion, the optimal activation treatment of ethanol exposure alone for the in vitro matured porcine oocytes was 8% ethanol for 8-15 min. Oocytes activated by 8% ethanol for 10 min and incubated in the NCSU-23 medium supplemented with CHX, CCB and 6-DMAP for 3 h were more efficient for parthenogenetic development of in vitro matured porcine oocytes.     

Effects of duration, concentration, and timing of ionomycin and 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) treatment on activation of goat oocytes

The protocol of ionomycin followed by 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) is commonly used for activation of oocytes and reconstituted embryos. Since numerous abnormalities and impaired development were observed when oocytes were activated with 6-DMAP, this protocol needs optimization. Effects of concentration and treatment duration of both drugs on activation and development of goat oocytes were examined in this study. The best oocyte activation (87-95%), assessed by pronuclear formation, was obtained when oocytes matured in vitro for 27 hr were treated with 0.625-20 microM ionomycin for 1 min before 6-hr incubation in 2 mM 6-DMAP. Progressional reduction of time for 6-DMAP-exposure showed that the duration of 6-DMAP treatment can be reduced to 1 hr from the second up to the fourth hour after ionomycin, to produce activation rates greater than 85%. Activation rates of oocytes in vitro matured for 27, 30, and 33 hr were higher (P < 0.05) than that of oocytes matured for 24 hr when treated with ionomycin plus 1-hr (the third hour) 6-DMAP, but a 4-hr incubation in 6-DMAP enhanced activation of the 24-hr oocytes. Goat activated oocytes began pronuclear formation at 3 hr and completed it by 5-hr post ionomycin. An extended incubation in 6-DMAP (a) impaired the development of goat parthenotes, (b) quickened both the release from metaphase arrest and the pronuclear formation, and (c) inhibited the chromosome movement at anaphase II (A-II) and telophase II (T-II), leading to the formation of one pronucleus without extrusion of PB2. In conclusion, duration, concentration, and timing of ionomycin and 6-DMAP treatment had marked effects on goat oocyte activation, and to obtain better activation and development, goat oocytes matured in vitro for 27 hr should be activated by 1 min exposure to 2.5 microM ionomycin followed by 2 mM 6-DMAP treatment for the third hour.     

Optimisation of porcine oocyte activation following nuclear transfer

Experiments were conducted to examine the effects of (a) different activation methods, (b) incubation time in calcium-free medium and (c) bisbenzimide staining on the activation and subsequent development of pig oocytes. Oocytes were matured in vitro and activated by one of the following methods: combined thimerosal/dithiothreitol (DTT) treatment, calcium ionophore A23187 treatment followed by incubation in the presence of 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP), electroporation, and electroporation followed by incubation with cytochalasin B. There were no significant differences in the activation rate (ranging from 70.0% to 88.3%) and the percentage of cleaved embryos after activation (ranging between 48.8% and 58.8%) among the four treatment groups (p < 0.05). The rate of development of the blastocyst stage in oocytes activated by thimerosal/DTT (10.0%) or electroporation followed by cytochalasin B treatment (12.3%) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in the group activated with A23187/6-DMAP (2.5%). Both the activation rate and the rate of blastocyst formation in oocytes that were incubated in Ca(2+)-free medium for 8 h before thimerosal/DTT activation were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than in those incubated for 0, 1 or 4 h. Intracellular Ca2+ measurements revealed that the Ca2+ homeostasis in these oocytes were severely altered. Staining of oocytes with 5 micrograms/ml bisbenzimide for 2 h decreased the quality of blastocysts and increased the rate of degenerated embryos at day 6. Two activation protocols (thimerosal/DTT and electroproation) were used for activation after nuclear transfer; the rate of nuclear formation did not differ in the oocytes activated by the two different methods.     

Chemical activation of in vitro matured dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) oocytes: optimization of protocols

Experiments were conducted to study the efficiency of sequential treatments of ionomycine and ethanol combined with phosphorylation inhibitor (6-dimethylaminopurine) or the specific maturation promoting factor inhibitor (roscovitine) in inducing artificial activation in dromedary M-II oocytes. Cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs), collected from slaughterhouse ovaries were cultured at 38.5 degrees C in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air for 24-48 h. In experiment 1, the COCs were either fertilized in vitro or activated with 5 microM ionomycine for 5 min or 7% ethanol for 7 min, both followed by exposure to 6-diethylaminopurine or roscovitine for 4h. After 14-15 h of in vitro culture, the oocytes were fixed and stained with 1% aceto-orcein to evaluate their nuclear status. In experiment 2, the oocytes were activated in the same manner as in experiment 1 but were cultured for 7 days to evaluate their post-parthenogenetic development. In experiment 3, oocytes were exposed to the ionomycine for 2, 3, 4 or 5 min to evaluate the better exposure time while as in experiment 4, the oocytes matured for 28-48 h were activated to see the effect of aging on post-parthenogenetic development. Higher proportion (P<0.01) of oocytes was activated in ionomycine/6-DMAP and ionomycine/roscovitine groups when compared with ethanol/6-DMAP, ethanol/roscovitine and in vitro fertilized groups. However, there was no difference (P>0.05) in the proportion of oocytes activated with ethanol when compared with in vitro fertilized group. No significant difference was seen on the proportion of morula on day 7 of culture, however the development to blastocyst stage was higher (P<0.01) in ionomycine/6-DMAP and ionomycine/roscovitine when compared with ethanol/6-DMAP and ethanol/roscovitine treated oocytes. A higher proportion of oocytes reached blastocyst stage when they were exposed to ionomycine for 3 min but they were not significantly different from the others (P>0.05). The proportion of blastocysts obtained was higher (P<0.05) in oocytes activated after 28 h of maturation when compared with oocytes activated after 32, 36, 40, 44 and 48 h of maturation. In conclusion, a protocol for chemical activation of dromedary camel oocytes with ionomycine/6-DMAP is demonstrated and optimized in the present study for further use in the development of assisted reproductive techniques in this species.     

Effects of post-treatment with 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) on ethanol activation of mouse oocytes at different ages

To study the effect of post-treatment with 6-Dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) on oocyte activation and development, mouse oocytes collected at different times post human chorion gonadotropin (hCG) injection were incubated in 6-DMAP-containing Chatot-Ziomek-Bavister (CZB) medium for different periods after ethanol exposure, and activation and development were observed. When oocytes were cultured in 6-DMAP without prior ethanol exposure, the highest activation rate was only 40%. Incubation in 6-DMAP for 6 h following ethanol exposure significantly (P < 0.05) increased the activation rate in oocytes recovered 15 and 18 h post hCG, but this effect was not significant in the 21 h oocytes. When oocytes were incubated in 6-DMAP for 1 h at different time points after ethanol, a 6-DMAP susceptible temporal window was found to be located from the second to the fifth h in the 18 h oocytes and from the fourth to the fifth h in the 15 h oocytes, and within the window, the duration of 6-DMAP incubation can be reduced to 0.5 h with more than 80% activation. With the 13 h oocytes, however, 6-DMAP-incubation can only be shortened to 3 h and no specific temporal window was identified. Oocytes that were incubated in 6-DMAP for 1 or 2 h after ethanol exposure developed to morula/blastocyst stages at significantly (P < 0.05) higher rates than those incubated in 6-DMAP for 6 h. Our results suggested that (i) long duration of 6-DMAP incubation impaired the development of mouse parthenogenotes; (ii) the effect of 6-DMAP alone was limited without prior ethanol exposure; (iii) the egg age affected both the timing of 6-DMAP susceptibility and the duration of exposure required to obtain a maximal activating effect; (iv) the most effective activating protocols varied for oocytes of different ages.     

Development of rabbit parthenogenetic oocytes and nuclear-transferred oocytes receiving cultured cumulus cells

The present study determined a suitable parthenogenetic activation procedure for rabbit oocytes and examined the developmental potential of enucleated oocytes receiving cultured cumulus cells. Unfertilized oocytes recovered from superovulated rabbits were activated with one or two sets of electrical pulses, with or without subsequent administration of 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP). The proportion of oocytes treated with one or two sets of electrical pulses and 6-DMAP that cleaved (87% and 98%, respectively) and developed into blastocysts (77% and 85%, respectively) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those activated with electrical pulses alone (30% and 42% for cleavage, 7% and 17% for blastocysts). Cumulus cells separated from ovulated oocytes obtained from mature rabbits were cultured for three to five passages and then induced to quiescence by serum starvation before nuclear transfer. The enucleated oocytes receiving cumulus cells were activated with electrical pulses followed by the addition of 6-DMAP, and cultured in vitro for 5 to 6 d or transferred to pseudopregnant recipient females 1 d after activation. Of 186 nuclear-transferred oocytes, 123 (66%) cleaved and 42 (23%) developed into blastocysts. After transfer of 174 nuclear-transferred oocytes to 8 recipient females, a total of 3 implantation sites were observed in 3 recipient females but no fetuses were obtained.     

A comparative study of parthenogenic activation and in vitro fertilization of bubaline oocytes

The effect of chemical activation protocols on in vitro-matured oocytes were compared to results with IVF (natural activation). Buffalo ovaries were collected in normal saline and transported to the laboratory within 2 h of slaughter. Good quality oocytes, collected by aspiration from 3 to 10 mm follicles, were matured for 22-24 h. Matured oocytes were subjected to either IVF (control) or chemical activation (treatment). For IVF, in vitro-matured oocytes were co-incubated with in vitro-capacitated approximately 1x10(6) frozen/thawed sperm of a Murrah bull and fertilized in modified synthetic oviductal fluid (mSOF) medium. Chemicals for oocytes activation comprised (a) 7% ethanol (ET) for 7 min+2.5 mM 6-dimethyl amino purine (6-DMAP) for 4h, (b) 7% ET for 7 min+10 microg/ml cycloheximide (CHX) for 6h and (c) 7% ET for 7 min+2.5 mM 6-DMAP+10 microg/ml CHX for 6 h. To study embryo development, fertilized and chemically activated oocytes were cultured in mSOF medium for up to 8 days. In this study, a mean of 1.9+/-0.02 maturable oocytes/ovary were recovered and 90.4% matured. Cleavage rate was significantly higher following ET+DMAP, ET+CHX and ET+CHX+DMAP activation (52.5%, 52.5% and 44.4%, respectively) compared to IVF (36.5%, 23.4% and 26.8%, respectively). Blastocyst development (30.9% versus 15.2%) was also significantly higher following ET+CHX+DMAP activation than IVF. The results of parthenogenesis reveal that buffalo oocytes had better inherent developmental competence and that the poor cleavage and embryo development following IVF may be due partly to the poor quality of frozen/thawed sperm, improper sperm capacitation and/or fertilization.