Endothelial adherence under shear stress is dependent upon microfilament reorganization

In response to externally applied shear stress, cultured endothelial monolayers develop prominent, axially-aligned, microfilamentous bundles, termed "stress fibers" (Dewey: Journal of Biomechanical Engineering 106:31-35, 1984; Franke et al.: Nature 81:570-580, 1984; Franke et al.: Klin. Wochenschr 64:989-992, 1986; Wechezak et al.: Laboratory Investigation 53:639-647, 1985). It is unclear, however, whether similar stress fibers develop in noncontiguous endothelial cells and whether these structures are necessary for adherence of individual cells under shear stress. It also is unknown what alterations occur in microtubules, intermediate filaments, and focal contacts as a consequence of shear stress. In this study, endothelial cells, free of intercellular contact, were exposed to 93 dynes/cm2 for 2 hr. With the aid of specific labeling probes and interference reflection microscopy, the distributional patterns of microfilaments, microtubules, intermediate filaments, and focal contacts were examined. Following shear stress, microfilament bundles and their associated focal contacts were concentrated in the proximal (relative to flow direction) cell regions. In contrast, microtubules were distributed uniformly within cell contours. Intermediate filaments displayed only an occasional tendency for accumulation at proximal edges. When cells were shear-tested in the presence of cytochalasin B to inhibit microfilament assembly, considerable cell loss occurred. Following inhibition of tubulin polymerization, no increase was observed in the percentage of cells lost due to shear over nontreated controls. Nocodazole-treated cells, however, were characterized by prominent stress fibers throughout the cell. These results indicate that stress fiber and focal contact reorganization represent major responses in isolated endothelial cells exposed to shear stress and that these cytoskeletal structures are necessary for adherence.     

Effects of pulsed electromagnetic field on growth and differentiation of embryonal carcinoma cells

A murine embryonal carcinoma cell line (F9) was used to examine the effect of a pulsed electromagnetic field on the growth and differentiation of malignant cells. The cells can be induced to differentiate into parietal endodermal cells by treatment with retinoic acid. The pulsed electromagnetic field (1 Gauss and 10 Gauss) promoted the growth of embryonal carcinoma cells in both the presence and absence of retinoic acid. The pulsed electromagnetic field was also found to inhibit retinoic acid-induced differentiation, when the degree of differentiation was based on morphological criteria or on the production of plasminogen activator.     

Endothelial cell confluence regulates cyclooxygenase-2 and prostaglandin E2 production that modulate motility

Endothelial cells line the vasculature and, after mechanical denudation during invasive procedures or cellular loss from natural causes, migrate to reestablish a confluent monolayer. We find confluent monolayers of human umbilical vein endothelial cells were quiescent and expressed low levels of cyclooxygenase-2, but expressed cyclooxygenase-2 at levels comparable with cytokine-stimulated cells when present in a subconfluent culture. Mechanically wounding endothelial cell monolayers stimulated rapid cyclooxygenase-2 expression that increased with the level of wounding. Cyclooxygenase-2 re-expression occurred throughout the culture, suggesting signaling from cells proximal to the wound to distal cells. Media from wounded monolayers stimulated cyclooxygenase-2 expression in confluent monolayers, which correlated with the level of wounding of the donor monolayer. Wounded monolayers and cells in subconfluent cultures secreted enhanced levels of prostaglandin (PG) E(2) that depended on cyclooxygenase-2 activity, and PGE(2) stimulated cyclooxygenase-2 expression in confluent endothelial cell monolayers. Cells from subconfluent monolayers migrated through filters more readily than those from confluent monolayers, and the cyclooxygenase-2-selective inhibitor NS-398 suppressed migration. Adding PGE(2) to NS-398-treated cells augmented migration. Endothelial cells also migrated into mechanically denuded areas of confluent monolayers, and this too was suppressed by NS-398. We conclude that endothelial cells not in contact with neighboring cells express cyclooxygenase-2 that results in enhanced release of PGE(2), and that this autocrine and paracrine loop enhances endothelial cell migration to cover denuded areas of the endothelium.     

Pulsed Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields Induce Tumor Membrane Disruption and Altered Cell Viability

Tumor cells express a unique cell surface glycocalyx with upregulation of sulfated glycosaminoglycans and charged glycoproteins. Little is known about how electromagnetic fields interact with this layer, particularly with regard to harnessing unique properties for therapeutic benefit. We applied a pulsed 20-millitesla (mT) magnetic field with rate of rise (dB/dt) in the msec range to cultured tumor cells to assess whether this affects membrane integrity as measured using cytolytic assays. A 10-min exposure of A549 human lung cancer cells to sequential 50- and 385-Hz oscillating magnetic fields was sufficient to induce intracellular protease release, suggesting altered membrane integrity after the field exposure. Heparinase treatment, which digests anionic sulfated glycan polymers, before exposure rendered cells insensitive to this effect. We further examined a non-neoplastic human primary cell line (lung lymphatic endothelial cells) as a typical normal host cell from the lung cancer microenvironment and found no effect of field exposure on membrane integrity. The field exposure was also sufficient to alter proliferation of tumor cells in culture, but not that of normal lymphatic cells. Pulsed magnetic field exposure of human breast cancer cells that express a sialic-acid rich glycocalyx also induced protease release, and this was partially abrogated by sialidase pretreatment, which removes cell surface anionic sialic acid. Scanning electron microscopy showed that field exposure may induce unique membrane “rippling” along with nanoscale pores on A549 cells. These effects were caused by a short exposure to pulsed 20-mT magnetic fields, and future work may examine greater magnitude effects. The proof of concept herein points to a mechanistic basis for possible applications of pulsed magnetic fields in novel anticancer strategies.     

Autocrine activities of basic fibroblast growth factor: regulation of endothelial cell movement, plasminogen activator synthesis, and DNA synthesis

We have found that the spontaneous migration of bovine aortic endothelial cells from the edge of a denuded area in a confluent monolayer is dependent upon the release of endogenous basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Cell movement is blocked by purified polyclonal rabbit IgG to bFGF as well as affinity purified anti-bFGF IgG and anti-bFGF F(ab')2 fragments. The inhibitory effect of the immunoglobulins is dependent upon antibody concentration, is reversible, is overcome by the addition of recombinant bFGF, and is removed by affinity chromatography of the antiserum through a column of bFGF-Sepharose. Cell movement is also reversibly inhibited by the addition of protamine sulfate and suramin; two agents reported to block bFGF binding to its receptor. The addition of recombinant bFGF to wounded monolayers accelerates the movement of cells into the denuded area. Transforming growth factor beta which has been shown to antagonize several other effects of bFGF also inhibits cell movement. The anti-bFGF IgG prevents the movement of bovine capillary endothelial cells, BHK-21, NIH 3T3, and human skin fibroblasts into a denuded area. Antibodies to bFGF, as well as suramin and protamine sulfate also suppress the basal levels of plasminogen activator and DNA synthesis in bovine aortic endothelial cells.     

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator mediates basic fibroblast growth factor-induced bovine endothelial cell migration independent of its proteolytic activity.

The dependence of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) induction on endogenous basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) activity during endothelial cell migration was investigated utilizing a combination of wounded endothelial cell monolayers and substrate overlay techniques. Purified polyclonal rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) against bFGF blocked the appearance of uPA-dependent lytic activity normally observed at the edge of a wounded bovine aortic endothelial (BAE) cell monolayer. Additionally, the migration of cells into the denuded area was inhibited 30-50% by antibodies either to bFGF or to bovine uPA. Incubation of wounded monolayers with either purified bovine uPA or agents able to induce PA activity, such as phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), vanadate, or bFGF, resulted in enhanced migration of cells (28-50%). Anti-bovine uPA IgG blocked a significant fraction (25%) of BAE cell migration induced by exposure to exogenous bFGF. The role of uPA in migration of wounded BAE cells was not dependent on plasmin generation. Furthermore, the amino terminal fragment (ATF) of human recombinant (hr) uPA, which is enzymatically inactive, stimulated endothelial cell movement in the presence of anti-bFGF IgG. These results suggest that BAE cell migration from the edge of a wounded monolayer is dependent upon local increases of uPA mediated by endogenous bFGF. Moreover, the data support the conclusion that migration is stimulated via a signalling mechanism dependent upon occupancy of the uPA receptor but independent of uPA-mediated proteolysis.     

HUMAN VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL CELLS IN CULTURE : Growth and DNA Synthesis

Human endothelial cells, obtained by collagenase treatment of term umbilical cord veins, were cultured using Medium 199 supplemented with 20% fetal calf serum. Small clusters of cells initially spread on plastic or glass, coalesced and grew to form confluent monolayers of polygonal cells by 7 days. Cells in primary and subcultures were identified as endothelium by the presence of Weibel-Palade bodies by electron microscopy. A morphologically distinct subpopulation of cells contaminating some primary endothelial cultures was selectively subcultured, and identified by ultrastructural criteria as vascular smooth muscle. Autoradiography of endothelial cells after exposure to [³H]thymidine showed progressive increases in labeling in growing cultures beginning at 24 h. In recently confluent cultures, labeling indices were 2.4% in central closely packed regions, and 53.2% in peripheral growing regions. 3 days after confluence, labeling was uniform, being 3.5 and 3.9% in central and peripheral areas, respectively. When small areas of confluent cultures were experimentally "denuded," there were localized increases in [³H]thymidine labeling and eventual reconstitution of the monolayer. Liquid scintillation measurements of [³H]thymidine incorporation in primary and secondary endothelial cultures in microwell trays showed a similar correlation of DNA synthesis with cell density. These data indicate that endothelial cell cultures may provide a useful in vitro model for studying pathophysiologic factors in endothelial regeneration.     

Thrombospondin-1 induces tyrosine phosphorylation of adherens junction proteins and regulates an endothelial paracellular pathway

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP) induces endothelial cell (EC) actin reorganization and focal adhesion disassembly and influences multiple EC functions. To determine whether TSP might regulate EC-EC interactions, we studied the effect of exogenous TSP on the movement of albumin across postconfluent EC monolayers. TSP increased transendothelial albumin flux in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations >/=1 microg/ml (2.2 nM). Increases in albumin flux were observed as early as 1 h after exposure to 30 microg/ml (71 nM) TSP. Inhibition of tyrosine kinases with herbimycin A or genistein protected against the TSP-induced barrier dysfunction by >80% and >50%, respectively. TSP-exposed monolayers exhibited actin reorganization and intercellular gap formation, whereas pretreatment with herbimycin A protected against this effect. Increased staining of phosphotyrosine-containing proteins was observed in plaque-like structures and at the intercellular boundaries of TSP-treated cells. In the presence of protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibition, TSP induced dose- and time-dependent increments in levels of phosphotyrosine-containing proteins; these TSP dose and time requirements were compatible with those defined for EC barrier dysfunction. Phosphoproteins that were identified include the adherens junction proteins focal adhesion kinase, paxillin, gamma-catenin, and p120(Cas). These combined data indicate that TSP can modulate endothelial barrier function, in part, through tyrosine phosphorylation of EC proteins.     

Propagation and morphologic phenotypes of human umbilical cord artery endothelial cells

Human umbilical cord artery endothelial cells can be propagated on fibronectin-coated dishes for approximately 50 cumulative population doublings in the presence of crude preparations of endothelial cell growth factor (ECGF) and serum. The cells were characterized by immunofluorescent staining and their ultrastructure. Different morphologic phenotypes could be demonstrated: closely attached cell monolayers, atypical cells, giant cells, tube-like structures. The formation of tube-like structures can be induced by proteolytic modification of fibronectin. Our data demonstrate that umbilical arteries may provide an excellent source for the routine serial cultivation of human arterial endothelial cells.     

Inhibition of endothelial cell movement by pericytes and smooth muscle cells: activation of a latent transforming growth factor-beta 1-like molecule by plasmin during co-culture

When a confluent monolayer of bovine aortic endothelial (BAE) cells is wounded with a razor blade, endothelial cells (ECs) spontaneously move into the denuded area. If bovine pericytes or smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are plated into the denuded area at low density, they block the movement of the ECs. This effect is dependent upon the number of cells plated into the wound area and contact between ECs and the plated cells. Antibodies to transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) abrogate the inhibition of BAE cell movement by pericytes or SMCs. TGF-beta 1, if added to wounded BAE cell monolayers, also inhibits cell movement. When cultured separately, BAE cells, pericytes, and SMCs each produce an inactive TGF-beta 1-like molecule which is activated in BAE cell-pericyte or BAE cell-SMC co-cultures. The activation appears to be mediated by plasmin as the inhibitory effect on cell movement in co-cultures of BAE cells and pericytes is blocked by the inclusion of inhibitors of plasmin in the culture medium.     

A Study of the Effects of Flux Density and Frequency of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field on Neurite Outgrowth in PC12 Cells

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of pulsed electromagnetic fields with various flux densities and frequencies on neurite outgrowth in PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells. We have studied the percentage of neurite-bearing cells, average length of neurites and directivity of neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells cultured for 96 hours in the presence of nerve growth factor (NGF). PC12 cells were exposed to 50 Hz pulsed electromagnetic fields with a flux density of 1.37 mT, 0.19 mT and 0.016 mT respectively. The field was generated through a Helmholtz coil pair housed in one incubator and the control samples were placed in another identical incubator. It was found that exposure to both a relatively high flux density (1.37 mT) and a medium flux density (0.19 mT) inhibited the percentage of neurite-bearing cells and promoted neurite length significantly. Exposure to high flux density (1.37 mT) also resulted in nearly 20% enhancement of neurite directivity along the field direction. However, exposure to low flux density field (0.016 mT) had no detectable effect on neurite outgrowth. We also studied the effect of frequency at the constant flux density of 1.37 mT. In the range from 1 ∼ 100 Hz, only 50 and 70 Hz pulse frequencies had significant effects on neurite outgrowth. Our study has shown that neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells is sensitive to flux density and frequency of pulsed electromagnetic field.     

Pulsed electromagnetic fields affect the intracellular calcium concentrations in human astrocytoma cells

Experiments assessed whether long term exposure to 50 Hz pulsed electromagnetic fields with a peak magnetic field of 3 mT can alter the dynamics of intracellular calcium in human astrocytoma U-373 MG cells. Pretreatment of cells with 1.2 microM substance P significantly increased the [Ca(2+)](i). The same effect was also observed when [Ca(2+)](i) was evaluated in the presence of 20 mM caffeine. After exposure to electromagnetic fields the basal [Ca(2+)](i) levels increased significantly from 143 +/- 46 nM to 278 +/- 125 nM. The increase was also evident after caffeine addition, but in cells treated with substance P and substance P + caffeine we observed a [Ca(2+)](i) decrease after exposure. When we substituted calcium-free medium for normal medium immediately before the [Ca(2+)](i) measurements, the [Ca(2+)](i) was similar to that measured in the presence of Ca(2+). In this case, after EMFs exposure of cells treated with substance P, the [Ca(2+)](i), measured without and with addition of caffeine, declined from 824 +/- 425 to 38 +/- 13 nM and from 1369 +/- 700 to 11 +/- 4 nM, respectively, indicating that electromagnetic fields act either on intracellular Ca(2+) stores or on the plasma membrane. Moreover the electromagnetic fields that affected [Ca(2+)](i) did not cause cell proliferation or cell death and the proliferation indexes remained unchanged after exposure.     

Repair of wounded monolayers of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells is inhibited by calcium spirulan,a novel sulfated polysaccharide isolated from Spirulina platensis

Calcium spirulan (Ca-SP) is a novel sulfated polysaccharide isolated from a blue-green alga Spirulina platensis. Ca-SP inhibits thrombin by activation of heparin cofactor II. Therefore, it could serve as an origin of anti-atherogenic medicines. Since maintenance of vascular endothelial cell monolayers is important for prevention of vascular lesions such as atherosclerosis, the effect of Ca-SP at 20 microg/ml or less on the repair of wounded bovine aortic endothelial cell monolayers in culture was investigated in the present study. When the monolayers were wounded and cultured in the presence of Ca-SP, the polysaccharide inhibited the appearance of the cells in the wounded area. The inhibition was also observed even when the repair was promoted by excess basic fibroblast growth factor, which is one of the autocrine growth factors that are involved in the endothelial cell monolayer maintenance. On the other hand, Ca-SP inhibited the cell growth and the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into the acid-insoluble fraction of proliferating endothelial cells, suggesting that Ca-SP inhibits endothelial cell proliferation. From these results, it is concluded that Ca-SP may retard the repair process of damaged vascular endothelium through inhibition of vascular endothelial cell proliferation by induction of a lower ability to respond to stimulation by endogenous basic fibroblast growth factor.     

The distribution of centrosomes in endothelial cells of non-wounded and wounded aortic organ cultures

Summary The distribution of centrosomes in porcine vascular endothelial cells of the thoracic aorta maintained in organ culture was determined in en face preparations using immunofluorescence. Rectangular pieces of aorta that had the distal half (with respect to the heart) of their endothelial surface gently denuded with a scalpel blade and pieces with intact endothelium were cultured for up to 96 h. At time 0, centrosomes were found to be preferentially oriented toward the heart, both in the cells of intact monolayers and in cells at the wound edge. This distribution was maintained in the intact monolayers for at least 24 h, but by 72 h the number of centrosomes in the center of the cells exceeded the number oriented toward the heart as the cells changed from a fusiform to a polygonal shape. The centrosomes of most endothelial cells at the wound edge began to redistribute themselves within the first 24 h in culture, moving from a position toward the heart to a position either in the center of the cell or away from the heart. By 72 h, the majority of centrosomes in endothelial cells at the wound edge were oriented away from the heart toward the denuded region. It is concluded that the centrosomes in the endothelial cells maintained in organ culture respond to injury in a manner similar to those grown in monolayer cell culture except that the reorientation of centrosomes occurs more slowly.     

Cellular spin resonance of aging yeast and mouse sarcoma cells

The way in which individual cells may be made to spin by the application of alternating electric fields is examined. The spinning of a given living cell is observed to respond rather sharply and in a resonant manner at several frequencies, hence the term "cellular spin resonance" (CSR). The frequencies of the applied field can be orders of magnitude higher than the actual spin rate. The CSR varies with the conductivity of the medium, with the square of the applied field, with the cell type and with the phase of the yeast cell life cycle. Living cells respond readily and individually are sharply resonant. Dead cells show little such response.From the behavior of the CRS in sinusoidal AC, as compared to pulsed DC, it appears likely that one cause of CSR, at least that in high frequency electric fields, is the presence of natural rf oscillations arising from the cells, and modulated by their high polarizability.     

Effects of extremely low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields on morphological and biochemical properties of human breast carcinoma cells (T47D)

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of 100 and 217 Hz extremely low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (ELF-PEMF) on cell proliferation, actin reorganization, and ROS generation in a human breast carcinoma cells (T47D). Cells were exposed for 24–72 h, at 100 and 217 Hz, 0.1 mT. The treatment induced a time dependent decrease in cell growth after 72 h and revealed an increase in fluorescence intensity in cytoplasm and actin aggregations around the nucleus as detected by fluorescence microscopy. The amount of actin in T47D cells increased after 48 h exposure to 100 Hz and 24 h to 217 Hz while no changes in nuclear morphology were detected. Exposing the cells to 217 Hz for 72 h caused a dramatically increase of intracellular ROS generation while with exposure to 100 Hz it remained nearly unchanged. These results suggest that exposure to ELF-PEMF (100, 217 Hz, 0.1 mT) are able inducing an increase of actin level, its migration toward nucleus but despite of these changes and dramatically increase in ROS generation the symptoms of apoptosis were not observed. Our results support the hypothesis that cell response to EMF may only be observed at certain window effects; such as frequency and intensity of EMF parameters.     

Astrocytes induce neural microvascular endothelial cells to form capillary-like structures in vitro

Astrocytes maintain a unique association with the central nervous system microvasculature and are thought to play a role in neural microvessel formation and differentiation. We investigated the influence of astroglial cells on neural microvascular endothelial differentiation in vitro. Using an astroglial-endothelial coculture system, rat brain astrocytes and C6 cells of astroglial lineage are shown to induce bovine retinal microvascular endothelial (BRE) cells to form capillary-like structures. Light microscopic evidence for endothelial reorganization began within 48 hours and was complete 72-96 hours following the addition of BRE cells to 1-day-old astroglial cultures. The extent of BRE reorganization was quantitated by computer-assisted analysis and shown to be dependent upon the density of both the BRE and C6 cells within the cocultures. Coculture conditions in which BRE cells were separated from C6 cells by porous membranes failed to generate this endothelial cell change. Likewise, C6-conditioned media and C6-endothelial coculture conditioned media did not induce BRE cell reorganization. Extracellular laminin within the C6-endothelial cocultures, identified by indirect immunofluorescence, was concentrated at the endothelial-astroglial interface of capillary-like structures consistent with incipient basement membrane formation. Astroglial cells accumulated adjacent to capillary-like structures suggesting the presence of bidirectional influences between the reorganized endothelial cells and astroglia. This is the first demonstration of astroglial induction of angiogenesis in vitro and these findings support a functional role for perivascular astrocytes in the vascularization of neural tissue such as retina and brain.     

Basic fibroblast growth factor and transforming growth factor beta-1: Synergistic mediators of angiogenesis in vitro

We investigated the relative roles of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-b) on bovine aortic endothelial cell mitogenesis and morphogenesis using two-dimensional Petri dish cultures and a threedimensional hydrated collagen gel. bFGF alone stimulated endothelial cell proliferation with an EC₅₀ of 0.5 ng/ml. At bFGF levels greater than 2.5 ng/ml, morphologic alterations in confluent monolayers predominated; cells changed from a cobblestone morphology to an elongated cell pattern and showed enhanced migration into a denuded area of a Petri dish. In the three-dimensional model, exposure of endothelial cell monolayers to high bFGF levels stimulated minor cell migration directly under the monolayer but no invasion into the gel matrix. In combination with bFGF, heparin potentiated morphogenic changes, but not mitogenesis. bFGF, modification of the antiproliferative effect of TGF-b in confluent cultures was evidenced by induction of endothelial cell sprouting in response to 0.5 ng/ml TGF-b and 10–20 ng/ml bFGF in two-dimensional cultures. On collagen gels, endothelial cells migrated into the deep layers of the gel in a dose-dependent manner: invasion was maximal at 0.3–0.7 ng/ml TGF-b with decreased invasion at higher concentrations. The optimal collagen concentration that supported cell invasion was 0.075% collagen with the number of invading cells decreasing with increasing collagen gel density. By scanning electron microscopy, invading endothelial cells assumed a fibroblast-like appearance with slender cell extensions. We concluded that bFGF and TGF-b had independent effects on endothelial cell morphology and mitogenesis in culture. In combination at specific doses, these agents stimulated sprouting in the two-dimensional model and cell invasion in a collagen gel model. Morphogenic changes may be the primary event in determining angiogenesis. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Effect of ovarian cortex cells on nuclear maturation of sheep oocytes during in vitro maturation

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of ovarian cortex cells (OCCs) monolayers on the nuclear maturation of sheep oocytes with or without cumulus cells during IVM. Sheep ovaries collected from a local abattoir were transported to the laboratory in warm PBS containing antibiotics within 2-3h after collection. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were obtained by aspiration and evaluated in a pre-incubated Hepes-modified TCM 199 medium. The selected COCs were randomly divided into six treatment groups: group 1 (control group): oocytes enclosed by cumulus cells were cultured in maturation medium; group 2 (co-culture group): oocytes enclosed by cumulus cells co-cultured with OCCs monolayers; group 3 (conditioned group): oocytes enclosed by cumulus cells were cultured in OCCs-conditioned medium; group 4 (denuded group): denuded oocytes were cultured in the maturation medium; group 5 (denuded co-culture group): denuded oocytes co-cultured with OCCs monolayers in maturation medium; group 6 (denuded conditioned group): denuded oocytes were cultured in OCCs-conditioned medium. After maturation for 24h, the oocytes in each treatment group were fixed, stained and the nuclear status of the oocytes were assessed under an inverted microscope. The highest percentage of metaphase II (M-II) stage oocyte was observed in group 2 (86.3%) and the lower percentage was observed in the denuded groups (group 4-6). The removal of cumulus cells dramatically decreased the percentage of M-II stage oocyte. The comparison of the nuclear maturation status in group 4-6 showed that the co-culture of oocyte with OCCs monolayers resulted in progression to completing the GVBD stage to reach the M-II stage. The results demonstrated that the presence of OCCs could positively influence the meiotic resumption and progression of sheep oocytes during IVM.