A combined treatment with ethanol and 6-dimethylaminopurine is effective for the activation and further embryonic development of oocytes from Sprague-Dawley and Wistar rats

Zygote ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daisuke Sano ◽  
Yuki Yamamoto ◽  
Tomo Samejima ◽  
Yasunari Seita ◽  
Tomo Inomata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Strontium Chloride ◽  
Oocyte Activation ◽  
Ethanol Treatment ◽  
Blastocyst Formation ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
High Osmolarity ◽  
Optimal Protocol ◽  
Artificial Activation

SummaryIn nuclear-transferred or round spermatid-injected oocytes, artificial activation is required for further development in mammals. Although strontium chloride is widely used as the reagent for inducing oocyte activation in mice, the optimal method for oocyte activation remains controversial in rats because ovulated rat oocytes are spontaneously activated in vitro before artificial activation is applied. In our previous study, we found that cytostatic factor activity, which is indispensable for arrest at the MII stage, is potentially low in rats and that this activity differs greatly between two outbred rats (Slc: Sprague-Dawley (SD) and Crj: Wistar). Therefore, it is necessary to establish an optimal protocol for oocyte activation independent of strains. Given that comparative studies of the in vitro development of oocytes activated by different activation protocols are very limited, we compared four different protocols for oocyte activation (ethanol, ionomycin, strontium and electrical pulses) in two different SD and Wistar rats. Our results show that oocytes derived from SD rats have significantly higher cleavage and blastocyst formation than those from Wistar rats independent of activation regimes. In both types of rat, ethanol treatment provided significantly higher developmental ability at cleavage and blastocyst formation compared to the other activation protocols. However, the initial culture in a fertilization medium (high osmolarity mR1ECM) for 24 h showed a detrimental effect on the further in vitro development of parthenogenetic rat oocytes. Taken together, our results show that ethanol treatment is the optimal protocol for the activation of rat oocytes in SD and Wistar outbred rats. Our data also suggest that high-osmolarity media are inadequate for the in vitro development of parthenogenetically activated oocytes compared with fertilized oocytes.

238 CAFFEINE PREVENTS A LOSS OF CALCIUM OSCILLATORY RESPONSE ASSOCIATED WITH POSTOVULATORY AGING OF MOUSE OOCYTES

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 217
Author(s):  
T. Wakai ◽  
N. Zhang ◽  
R. A. Fissore
Keyword(s):  
Subsequent Development ◽  
Oocyte Quality ◽  
Developmental Competence ◽  
Oscillatory Activity ◽  
Strontium Chloride ◽  
Oocyte Activation ◽  
Mouse Oocytes ◽  
Oocyte Aging ◽  
Postovulatory Aging

Numerous studies have demonstrated that postovulatory aging of oocytes prior to fertilization has detrimental effects on oocyte quality and developmental competence. Oocyte aging is accompanied by abnormal oocyte activation and subsequent development, suggesting a disruption of Ca2+ oscillations after fertilization. The inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 1 (IP3R1) in mammals is responsible for the majority of Ca2+ release during fertilization (Miyazaki S et al. 1993 Dev. Biol.). Previously, we reported that phosphorylation of IP3R1 at an MPM-2 epitope may play an important role in facilitating the induction of Ca2+ oscillations at the MII stage (Lee B et al. 2006 Development), indicating that IP3R1 phosphorylation may be a good indicator of the health of the oocyte. However, few studies have investigated the alteration of the Ca2+ signaling and IP3R1 function associated with oocyte aging. On the other hand, a previous report showed that caffeine increased MPF activity and suppressed fragmentation after parthenogenetic activation of aged oocytes (Kikuchi K et al. 2000 Biol. Reprod.). Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine whether and how Ca2+ oscillatory activity changes during oocyte aging and to test if caffeine prevents the negative effects of oocyte aging. MII mouse oocytes were collected 14 h after hCG injection and cultured in vitro for 8, 24 or 48 h with or without caffeine (5 or 10 mm). Oocyte quality was assessed by the occurrence of spontaneous fragmentation, monitoring of Ca2+ oscillations after exposure to 10 mm strontium chloride, Western blot analysis of IP3R1 phosphorylation and immunostaining of IP3R1. In oocytes in vitro aged for 8 h, the duration of the first Ca2+ rise was significantly decreased compared with fresh MII oocytes, although this reduction was not observed in MII oocytes treated with 5 mm caffeine. The phosphorylation of IP3R1 at the MPM-2 epitope was slightly decreased during oocyte aging in both caffeine and noncaffeine treatment. Importantly, whereas IP3R1 in MII oocytes treated for 8 h with 5 mm caffeine displayed the typical cortical cluster organization, IP3R1 in aged oocytes without caffeine became dispersed in the cytoplasm. In addition, caffeine significantly suppressed the spontaneous fragmentation that is normally observed by 48 h of in vitro culture. These results suggest that the Ca2+ oscillatory activity is compromised during oocyte aging and caffeine prevents the loss of integrity of Ca2+ signaling possibly by keeping the cortical distribution of IP3R1.

230 ACTIVATION OF IN VITRO-MATURED BOVINE OOCYTES WITH IONOMYCIN AND ROSCOVITINE AFTER INTRACYTOPLASMIC SPERM INJECTION

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 194
Author(s):  
C. B. Fernandes ◽  
L. G. Devito ◽  
L. R. Martins ◽  
T. S. Rascado ◽  
F. C. Landim-Alvarenga
Keyword(s):  
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection ◽  
Kinase Inhibitor ◽  
Polar Body ◽  
Sperm Concentration ◽  
Oocyte Activation ◽  
Cleavage Rate ◽  
Sperm Suspension ◽  
Artificial Activation ◽  
Bovine Oocytes

In all mammalian species studied so far, fertilization induces oocyte activation necessary for pronuclear formation, syngamy, and the beginning of embryonic cleavage. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effectiveness of a protocol for artificial activation for bovine oocytes using ionomycin and roscovitine either in combination with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or alone. In this study, ionomycin was used to facilitate the increase of intracellular calcium, due to the release of calcium from intracellular stores. This compound was used in conjuction with roscovitine, a specific cdc2 kinase inhibitor. The success of the treatment was compared with that of oocytes fertilized by IVF. Three replicates were carried out using bovine oocytes harvested from slaughterhouse ovaries. In vitro-matured oocytes were cultured in TCM-199 plus 10% FCS, pyruvate, estradiol, hCG, and gentamicin at 39�C in an atmosphere of 5% of CO2 in air for 20 h. After in vitro maturation, oocytes were divided into 3 groups. For parthenogenetic activation, 100 oocytes were stripped of cumulus cells and placed in H-MEM plus 10% FCS and 5 µm ionomycin for 8 min, maintained in H-MEM plus 10% FCS, 66 mm roscovitine and 7.5 mg mL–1 cytochalasin B for 6 h, and placed into culture. In the ICSI group, oocytes were denuded and transferred to 5-µL H-MEM plus 20% FCS drops. Only MII oocytes were microinjected. The sperm drop was prepared with a mixture of 4 µL polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and 1 µL of the sperm suspension produced by Percoll gradient. For injection, a single normal mobile sperm was aspirated with the tail first. A single oocyte was fixed by holding the pipette to position the polar body at the 6 or 12 o'clock position. The injection pipette was pushed through the zona pellucida and the oolema and the spermatozoan was released into the cytoplasm. After ICSI, the oocytes were subjected to the same activation protocol described earlier and cultured. For IVF, sperm was prepared by swim-up and 100 oocytes were fertilized in Fert-Talp for 18 h (sperm concentration: 1 � 106). All oocytes were cultured in HTF:BME plus 0.6% BSA, 10% FCS, 0.01% myoinositol, and gentamycin at 39�C in an atmosphere of 5% of CO2 in air for 72 h. Cleavage was evaluated visually and the embryos were stained with Hoechst 33342 for estimation of nuclei numbers. The data were analyzed by ANOVA, followed by the Tukey test (P < 0.05). The results showed a cleavage rate of 76% for the IVF group, 57% for the ICSI group, and 51% for the parthenogenic group. The artificial activation proposed was efficient in inducing oocyte activation and cleavage; however, the rates obtained were significantly lower then the ones observed after IVF. Injection of a viable sperm into the oocyte through ICSI did not improve the cleavage rate after activation. This result indicates that the membrane fusion and/or sperm interaction with the oocyte during fertilization is important for the physiological modifications that result in oocyte cleavage in bovine.

Parthenogenetic activation and somatic cell nuclear transfer of porcine oocytes activated by an electric pulse and AZD5438 treatment

Zygote ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Chen Li ◽  
Qing Guo ◽  
Hai-Ying Zhu ◽  
Long Jin ◽  
Yu-Chen Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Electric Pulse ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Developmental Competence ◽  
Oocyte Activation ◽  
Blastocyst Formation ◽  
Parthenogenetic Activation

SummaryWe examined the in vitro developmental competence of parthenogenetic activation (PA) oocytes activated by an electric pulse (EP) and treated with various concentrations of AZD5438 for 4 h. Treatment with 10 µM AZD5438 for 4 h significantly improved the blastocyst formation rate of PA oocytes in comparison with 0, 20, or 50 µM AZD5438 treatment (46.4% vs. 34.5%, 32.3%, and 24.0%, respectively; P < 0.05). The blastocyst formation rate was higher in the group treated with AZD5438 for 4 h than in the groups treated with AZD5438 for 2 or 6 h (42.8% vs. 38.6% and 37.2%, respectively; P > 0.05). Furthermore, 66.67% of blastocysts derived from these AZD5438-treated PA oocytes had a diploid karyotype. The blastocyst formation rate of PA and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos was similar between oocytes activated by an EP and treated with 2 mM 6-dimethylaminopurine for 4 h and those activated by an EP and treated with 10 µM AZD5438 for 4 h (11.11% vs. 13.40%, P > 0.05). In addition, the level of maturation-promoting factor (MPF) was significantly decreased in oocytes activated by an EP and treated with 10 µM AZD5438 for 4 h. Finally, the mRNA expression levels of apoptosis-related genes (Bax and Bcl-2) and pluripotency-related genes (Oct4, Nanog, and Sox2) were checked by RT-PCR; however, there were no differences between the AZD5438-treated and non-treated control groups. Our results demonstrate that porcine oocyte activation via an EP in combination with AZD5438 treatment can lead to a high blastocyst formation rate in PA and SCNT experiments.

Sperm-derived factors enhance the in vitro developmental potential of haploid parthenotes

Zygote ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 697-710 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramya Nair ◽  
Shahin Aboobacker ◽  
Srinivas Mutalik ◽  
Guruprasad Kalthur ◽  
Satish Kumar Adiga
Keyword(s):  
Strontium Chloride ◽  
Cortical Granules ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Developmental Potential ◽  
Activation Rate ◽  
Paternal Factors ◽  
Artificial Activation ◽  
Cortical Distribution

SummaryParthenotes are characterized by poor in vitro developmental potential either due to the ploidy status or the absence of paternal factors. In the present study, we demonstrate the beneficial role of sperm-derived factors (SDF) on the in vitro development of mouse parthenotes. Mature (MII) oocytes collected from superovulated Swiss albino mice were activated using strontium chloride (SrCl2) in the presence or absence of various concentrations of SDF in M16 medium. The presence of SDF in activation medium did not have any significant influence on the activation rate. However, a significant increase in the developmental potential of the embryos and increased blastocyst rate (P < 0.01) was observed at 50 µg/ml concentration. Furthermore, the activated oocytes from this group exhibited early cleavage and cortical distribution of cortical granules that was similar to that of normally fertilized zygotes. Culturing 2-cell stage parthenotes in the presence of SDF significantly improved the developmental potential (P < 0.05) indicating that they also play a significant role in embryo development. In conclusion, artificial activation of oocytes with SDF can improve the developmental potential of parthenotes in vitro.

scholarly journals Phosphorylated histone H2A.x in porcine embryos produced by IVF and somatic cell nuclear transfer

Reproduction ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 146 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo C Bohrer ◽  
Limei Che ◽  
Paulo B D Gonçalves ◽  
Raj Duggavathi ◽  
Vilceu Bordignon
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Chloride Ion ◽  
Dna Integrity ◽  
Strontium Chloride ◽  
Oocyte Activation ◽  
Dna Double Strand Breaks ◽  
Cell Stage

Phosphorylated histone H2A.x (H2AX139ph) is a key factor for the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and the presence of H2AX139ph foci indicates the sites of DSBs. In this study, we characterized the presence of H2AX139ph during in vitro development of porcine embryos produced by IVF and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Pronuclear stage embryos produced by IVF had, on average, 9.2 H2AX139ph foci per pronucleus. The number of H2AX139ph foci was higher in the 2-cell-stage embryos than in the 4-cell-stage embryos fixed at 48 h post-fertilization. The percentage of H2AX139ph-positive nuclei was higher in SCNT embryos that were activated with ionomycin (ION) alone than in those activated with ION and strontium chloride (ION+Sr2+). A negative correlation was found between the percentage of H2AX139ph-positive cells and the total number of cells per embryo in day 7 blastocysts produced by IVF or SCNT. Based on the detection of H2AX139ph foci, the findings of this study indicate that DSBs occur in a high proportion of porcine embryos produced by either IVF or SCNT; fast-cleaving embryos have fewer DSBs than slow-cleaving embryos; the oocyte activation protocol can affect DNA integrity in SCNT embryos; and better-quality blastocysts have fewer DSBs. We propose that the presence of H2AX139ph foci can be a useful marker of embryo quality.

In vitro development of non-enucleated rat oocytes following microinjection of a cumulus nucleus and chemical activation

Zygote ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wataru Fujii ◽  
Hiroaki Funahashi
Keyword(s):  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Chromatin Condensation ◽  
Chemical Activation ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Blastocyst Formation ◽  
Spindle Formation ◽  
Female Wistar Rats ◽  
Pronuclear Formation ◽  
Vitro Development

SummaryThe present study examined in vitro development and the cytological status of non-enucleated rat oocytes after microinjection of cumulus nuclei and chemical activation. Oocyte–cumulus complexes were collected from gonadotropin-treated prepubertal female Wistar rats 14 h after human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection. Cumulus nuclei were injected into ovulated oocytes and then stimulated in the presence of 5 mM SrCl2 for 20 min at various time points (0–3.5 h) after injection. Some of the reconstituted eggs were cultured to observe the pronuclear formation, cleavage, and blastocyst formation. The incidences of eggs forming at least one pronucleus or containing two pronuclei were not significantly different among the periods (82.4–83.5% and 43.4–51.9%, respectively). Nor did the incidences of eggs cleaving (86.7–97.7%) and developing to the blastocyst stage (0–3.5%) differ depending on when, after injection, stimulation began. When some of the reconstituted eggs were observed for cytological morphology 1–1.5 h after injection, 71.7% of the eggs caused premature chromatin condensation, but only 46.2% of them formed two spindles around each of maternal and somatic chromatins. However, the morphology of the somatic spindles differed from that of the spindles, which formed around the oocyte chromatins. Only 7.5% of the eggs contained the normal chromosomal number. In many reconstituted oocytes, before activation, an abnormal spindle formation was observed in the somatic chromatins. In conclusion, these results show that non-enucleated rat oocytes injected with cumulus nuclei can form pronuclei and cleave following chemical activation, whereas blastocyst formation is very limited, probably caused by abnormalities in the spindle formation and distribution of somatic chromatids.

Strategies for activating nuclear transfer oocytes

1998 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoltán Macháty ◽  
Randall S. Prather
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Oocyte Activation ◽  
Maturation In Vitro ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Artificial Oocyte Activation ◽  
Transfer Procedures ◽  
Artificial Activation

The technique of nuclear transfer can have enormous applications in the fields of agriculture and biomedicine. This is especially true if a cell line that has been transformed can be used as a source of nuclei for the nuclear transfer. One major aspect of the nuclear transfer procedures is that of oocyte activation. Without oocyte activation the transferred nucleus would never progress to the first interphase. It is therefore of utmost importance that the oocyte be activated in a fashion that is as normal as fertilization. The inability to obtain development after artificial activation of pig oocytes has been a limiting factor in the application of the nuclear transfer technology. Recently, a number of techniques have been developed that result in blastocyst stage embryos after oocyte maturation in vitro and artificial activation. The theories behind normal oocyte activation are reviewed as well as a number of methods of artificial oocyte activation. It is anticipated that such a review will provide the basis for the development of additional methods that are as efficient, or more efficient, at activating the unfertilized oocyte.

The kinetics of oocyte activation and dynamics of polar body formation in Calomys musculinus and Calomys laucha (Rodentia–Sigmodontinae)

Zygote ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 347-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Lasserre ◽  
Elisa Cebral ◽  
Alfredo D. Vitullo
Keyword(s):  
Cell Biology ◽  
Polar Body ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Strontium Chloride ◽  
Oocyte Activation ◽  
Calomys Musculinus ◽  
Polar Body Formation ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Calomys Laucha

The objective of this study was to determine whether Calomys laucha and Calomys musculinus super-ovulated oocytes undergo parthenogenetic activation following activation stimuli. Cumulus-intact or denuded oocytes were treated with medium containing ethanol (7%), medium containing strontium chloride, or medium alone. They were then incubated for 6–8 h to allow for activation. A group of oocytes was fixed immediately after maturation to serve as a control. The nuclear status of the oocytes was examined after staining with Hoechst 33342, to determine the timing of pronuclear progression from metaphase II to anaphase II or telophase II or to the pronuclear stage. The proportion of oocytes that underwent activation was higher for oocytes treated with ethanol or strontium chloride than in those incubated in medium alone, for the two species studied (p < 0.001). There was little evidence of spontaneous activation occurring in oocytes during the treatments. Most of the activated oocytes contained a single haploid pronucleus, but it was possible to find immediate cleavage and two pronuclei. The different classes of activated oocytes were cultured for 5 days. The type of activating treatment had a marked effect on the ability of the resulting C. musculinus and C. laucha parthenogenetic embryos to develop to the preimplantation stages. Incubation with ethanol produced only 8-cell embryos while the embryos induced with strontium chloride reached the blastocyst stage. This is the first report of parthenogenesis in C. musculinus and C. laucha. The ability of strontium ions to induce matured secondary oocytes to initiate parthenogenesis and obtain further development of Calomys provides opportunities to use Calomys oocytes in vitro and, therefore, to study the genetics, cell biology and virology of development.

scholarly journals 306SPONTANEOUS AND PARTHENOGENETIC ACTIVATION OF RAT OOCYTES

2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 272
Author(s):  
J.G. Yoo ◽  
L.C. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Effective Means ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Oocyte Activation ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Parthenogenetic Activation ◽  
Spontaneous Activation ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Electrical Stimuli ◽  
Pronuclear Formation

Oocyte activation is one of the critical steps for the success in a mammalian cloning program. In rats, information regarding parthenogenetic activation of oocytes is limited and further studies are required to elucidate the phenomenon of spontaneous activation and to develop effective protocols of induced activation. The objectives of the study were (1) to characterize the kinetics of spontaneous activation and (2) to examine different activation regimens for rat oocytes. Oocytes were collected from 3–4-wk-old PMSG-primed Sprague Dawley rats at 14h after hCG injection. HEPES-mR1ECM was used for oocyte collection and mR1ECM for in vitro culture (Miyoshi et al., 1995 J. Reprod. Fert. 103, 27–32). Experiment 1: Cumulus-denuded oocytes were fixed and stained with bisbenzimide (Hoechst 33342) at 10, 40, 70, 100 and 130min after recovery. Most oocytes (92.9%) were still arrested in the metaphase II stage at 10min after recovery, but the proportion of activated oocytes increased in a time-dependent manner, i.e. at 40min after recovery 50% were at anaphase. At 70min, 32.4%, 40.5%, 8.1%; at 100min, 4.8%, 57.1%, 23.8%; and at 130min, 0%, 3.3%, 86.7% had progressed to anaphase II, telophase II and extruded a 2nd PB, respectively. Experiment 2: Oocytes were exposed to the following activation treatments: Two sets of electrical stimuli (ES) 1h apart composed of 3 DC pulses, 1s apart of 1.2kVcm−1 field strength and 60μs duration in 0.25M mannitol solution (Roh et al., 2003 Reprod. Fert. and Dev., 15, 135–140). After ES treatment, oocytes were exposed for 3h to either cycloheximide (CHX, 10μg mL−1, Group 1), 6-dimethylaminopurine (DMAP, 2mM, Group 2), or CHX (10μgmL−1) and DMAP (2mM) (Group 3). Group 4 was exposed to Strontium (10mM) for 1h and then incubated with CHX (10μgmL−1) and DMAP (2mM) for 3h. Oocytes were washed thoroughly after treatment, transferred to 50-μL droplets of mR1ECM and cultured at 37°C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% O2, 5% CO2 and 90% N2. Pronuclear formation and cleavage rates were significantly higher in Groups 2 and 3 than in Groups 1 and 4 (92.6%, 88.9% and 84.6%, 80.8% v. 49.1%, 45.6% and 62.8%, 55.8%, respectively). First, these results show that rat oocytes undergo spontaneous activation very rapidly after recovery from the oviducts. Second, activation protocols with two sets of triple DC electrical stimulation followed by exposure to DMAP or CHX/DMAP are effective means of activation. In conclusion, the above information will be useful in establishing effective protocols for cloning rats. (Financial support by NSERC and Canada Research Chairs.)

scholarly journals 269 INACTIVATION OF MATURATION PROMOTING FACTOR AND MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE IN PORCINE OOCYTES BY A SINGLE ELECTRICAL PULSE

2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 284
Author(s):  
D.-B. Koo ◽  
J.-I. Chae ◽  
J.-S. Kim ◽  
G. Wee ◽  
B.-S. Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Electrical Pulse ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Blastocyst Formation ◽  
Development Rates ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Artificial Activation ◽  
Field Strengths ◽  
Maturation Promoting Factor

Activities of maturation-promoting factor (MPF) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) of mature oocytes should be decreased to begin subsequent development. In this study, activities of MPF and MAPK were investigated in porcine oocytes after artificial activation. To determine optimal electrical activation, porcine oocytes were exposed to 3 V AC pulse for 5 s followed by a single DC pulse of various electric field strengths (120, 150, 180, and 210 V/mm) and pulse durations (15, 30, 45, and 60 μs). For chemical activation, oocytes were exposed to 5 μM ionomycin for 5 min followed by 2 mM 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) or 5 μg/mL cycloheximide for 4 h or 6 h. After activation, 40 to 50 oocytes were cultured in 50-μL drops of NCSU23 medium supplemented with 4 mg/mL BSA at 39°C, and 5% CO2 in air. After 6 days of culture, blastocyst formation was observed and then numbers of blastocyst nuclei were counted after staining with Hoechst 33342. in vitro development rates and numbers of blastocyst nuclei by the field strengths were not significantly different among experimental groups (P > 0.05). However, development rates to the blastocyst stage of porcine oocytes exposed to 15 and 30 μ­s were 27.4 and 24.4%, respectively, which were significantly higher than that (12.5%) of 60 μs (P < 0.05). Mean numbers of blastocyst nuclei in 15- and 30-μs groups (38.6 ± 13.4 and 37.9 ± 11.4, respectively) were significantly higher than that (25.8 ± 10.5) of the 60-μs group (P < 0.05). Blastocyst development after optimal electrical pulse exposure was compared with that after different chemical treatments. Electrical stimulation induced 22.9% of blastocyst formation, which was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than those induced by the chemical stimulators (3.4 and 2.7%). Based on these results, changes of constituent proteins (cdc2 and ERK) of MPF and MAPK after artificial activation were analyzed by immunoblotting using anti-PSTAIRE monoclonal antibody and anti-MAP kinase polyclonal antibody. Activities of both cdc2 and ERK in pig oocytes were reduced 4 h after electrical stimulus, but were maintained at optimal levels after treatment with ionomycin + 6-DMAP. Our results indicate that an optimal single electrical pulse is effective on the inactivation of MPF and MAPK in porcine oocytes, eventually resulting in activation of porcine oocytes produced in vitro.

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