Culture conditions affect meiotic regulation in cumulus cell-enclosed mouse oocytes

Epidermal growth factor enhances preimplantation developmental competence of maturing mouse oocytes

The objective of this study was to determine whether epidermal growth factor (EGF) promotes nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of mouse oocytes grown in vivo or in vitro. In-vivo-grown oocytes were isolated at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage from gonadotrophin-primed (PR) or -unprimed (UPR) 22-day-old mice before in-vitro maturation (IVM). In-vitro-grown (IVG) oocytes were isolated from preantral follicles of 12-day-old mice and grown in vitro without gonadotrophins for 10 days before maturation (IVG/IVM oocytes). IVM and IVG/IVM oocytes were matured in medium supplemented with either EGF (10 ng/ml), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) (100 ng/ml), EGF plus FSH, or with neither ligand (control). When oocyte-cumulus cell complexes were isolated from PR and UPR mice, IVM with EGF (10 ng/ml), alone or in combination with FSH (100 ng/ml), increased (P < 0.05) the incidence of nuclear maturation to metaphase II. Cytoplasmic maturation of oocytes from PR females, manifested as increased frequency of cleavage to the 2-cell stage and development to the blastocyst stage, was also enhanced with EGF (P < 0.05). Moreover, EGF increased the number of cells per blastocyst, but only in the absence of FSH (P < 0.01). In contrast, EGF, FSH, or EGF plus FSH did not affect the percentage of oocytes from UPR mice completing preimplantation development, but did increase the number of cells per blastocyst. These ligands also increased the proportion of IVG oocytes reaching metaphase II (53-57%) compared with controls (25%; P < 0.05). EGF alone or in combination with FSH increased (P < 0.05) the frequency of blastocyst formation (23% and 28%, respectively) compared with controls (13%). EGF treatment of maturing IVG oocytes produced blastocysts with more cells than other IVG groups (P < 0.05). It is concluded that gonadotrophins in vivo increase the sensitivity or responsiveness of cumulus cell-enclosed oocytes to EGF, thereby promoting both nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation. However, oocyte-granulosa cell complexes grown in vitro become responsive to EGF without gonadotrophin treatment. Thus, nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of IVG oocytes is promoted by EGF treatment during meiotic maturation.

Metabolism of radiolabeled glucose by mouse oocytes and oocyte-cumulus cell complexes

This study was carried out to examine the metabolism of [1-14C]-, [6-14C]-, and [5-3H]glucose by oocyte-cumulus cell complexes (OCC) and denuded oocytes (DO) and to test the hypothesis that metabolism of glucose through the pentose phosphate pathway is associated with meiotic induction. OCC or DO were cultured in hanging drops suspended from the cap of a microfuge tube, with NaOH serving as a trap to collect released 3H2O or 14CO2. Preliminary experiments established that this culture system supports both spontaneous and ligand-induced meiotic maturation. An initial time course experiment (1.5-6 h) showed that hypoxanthine-treated OCC from eCG-primed animals metabolized glucose principally via glycolysis, with an increase to 2.7-fold in response to FSH. Though more [1-14C]glucose was oxidized than [6-14C]glucose, its metabolism was about two orders of magnitude less than that of [5-3H]glucose. Also, FSH significantly increased oxidation of [1-14C]glucose but not [6-14C]glucose, indicating a preferential activation of the pentose phosphate pathway. Pyrroline carboxylate, an activator of the pentose phosphate pathway, increased the activity of this pathway to over 2-fold but failed to affect glucose oxidation through the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Glycolytic metabolism was increased by 25%. The addition of pyruvate to pyruvate-free medium resulted in significant reduction in the metabolism of all three glucose analogues. In OCC retrieved from hCG-injected, primed mice and cultured under hormone-free conditions, metabolic responses were similar to those in FSH-treated complexes cultured in hypoxanthine. DO metabolized glucose, but at a much reduced rate when compared to OCC. Pyruvate reduced the consumption of all three glucose analogues by DO. Pyrroline carboxylate reduced [5-3H]glucose metabolism by DO but had little effect on [1-14C]- and [6-14C]glucose oxidation. These data demonstrate metabolism of glucose by both DO and OCC, but reveal that cumulus cells are more active than the oocyte in this regard. In addition, induction of maturation by FSH, hCG, or pyrroline carboxylate was accompanied by a significant increase in the oxidation of [1-14C]glucose but not [6-14C]glucose by OCC, supporting a proposed role for the pentose phosphate pathway in meiotic induction.

Low oxygen inhibits but complex high-glucose medium facilitates in vitro maturation of squirrel monkey oocyte-granulosa cell complexes

PURPOSE

The objectives of these in vitro maturation studies in primate cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were to evaluate the effect of a reduced-oxygen environment and to compare medium with a high-glucose concentration to medium with pyruvate but no glucose.

METHODS

COCs were retrieved from squirrel monkeys stimulated with 1 mg of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) for 4-6 days. Experiment 1 examined maturation after 48 hr in 5% O2/5% CO2/90% N2 compared with 5% CO2/air. The medium was CMRL-1066 containing moderate glucose (5.5 mM) supplemented with 1 mM glutamine, 0.33 mM pyruvate, 0.075 IU/ml human FSH, 5 IU/ml human chorionic gonadotropin, 75 U penicillin G/ml, and 20% fetal bovine serum. Experiment 2 in 5% CO2/air, compared P-1 medium (pyruvate and lactate but no glucose) to Waymouth's medium (27.5 mM glucose), both with identical supplements.

RESULTS

Only 3 (8%) of 37 COCs matured in 5% O2, while 39 (49%) of 80 matured in ambient O2. Fourteen (22%) of 64 complexes matured in P-1 medium, compared to 47 (49%) of 96 meiosis II oocytes in Waymouth's medium (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These are the first primate studies showing detrimental effects of reduced-oxygen culture on in vitro maturation. Additionally, maturation was enhanced with complex high-glucose medium suggesting that the predominant metabolism is aerobic glycolysis.

Copper(II) complexation properties and surfactant activity of 3-[N, N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid and N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N'-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid pH buffers which may affect trace metal speciation in in vitro studies

Disadvantages of the some zwitterionic pH buffers are (i) that they can interact with metal ions as well as protons, and (ii) that they may have a surfactant effect in chemical or in vitro biological or biochemical studies. This has to be taken into account when a buffer is selected. Here, the copper-complexing capacity and the surfactant activity of three compounds, 3-[N,N-bis (2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid (DIPSO), N-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N'-(2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid) (HEPPSO), and piperazine-N,N'-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid) (Pipes), were investigated. Global stability constants (log betaabc) of copper(II)-buffer complexes were determined, at 25 degrees C, 0.5 M ionic strength, and at 0.8 mM buffer concentration, by pH and pCu ion-selective electrode measurements. Here, betaabc corresponds to the equilibrium: aCu2+ + bL- + cH+ left and right arrow (CuaLbHc)(2a-b+c); HL = DIPSO or HEPPSO; c: +1 = proton; -1 = hydroxide. Using SUPERQUAD constants were calculated, giving: DIPSO: log beta110 = 5.02, log beta120 = 8.99, log beta130 = 13.0, log beta140 = 16.3, log beta14-1 = 9.26, log beta14-2 = 0.645, log beta150 = 20.5, log beta160 = 24.3, log beta16-1 = 16.1, log beta16-2 = 8.98; HEPPSO: log beta110 = 4.29, log beta120 = 8.35, log beta130 = 12.1, log beta140 = 15.9, log beta150 = 19.6, log beta160 = 23.4, log beta16-1 = 14.9. The pKa values were determined at higher buffer concentrations, giving a value 7.33 for DIPSO and 7.84 for HEPPSO at 2.0 mM buffer concentration. Effects of buffer concentration on stability and acidity constants were investigated and compared with measurements using voltammetric and potentiometric stripping analysis, confirming no copper(II) complexation by Pipes. Surfactant activities were determined using alternating current polarography, confirming marked surface activity of 10 mM of DIPSO or HEPPSO.

Effect of protein synthesis inhibition before or during in vitro maturation on subsequent development of bovine oocytes

The overall objective of this study was to assess the effect of maintaining meiotic arrest in bovine oocytes in vitro on developmental competence. In Experiment 1 the effect of inhibition of meiotic resumption using cycloheximide (CX), on subsequent was examined. Immature cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs, n = 804) were cultured in the absence (24 h) or presence of CX for 6, 12, 18 or 24 h. The control was inseminated 24 h later, while CX-treated oocytes were cultured for a further 24 h before insemination. In Experiment 2 the effect of exposing the oocyte (n = 1239) during meiotic arrest to putative stimulatory substances (pFSH and FCS) was examined. In Experiment 3, to study the importance of protein synthesis during maturation, synthesis was blocked for a 6-h period at various times (6, 12, 18 h) after start of culture (n = 1117). In Experiment 1, there was no difference in cleavage rate between treatments. However, the percentage of 5 to 8 cell embryos at 72 h post insemination was significantly lower after CX treatment (64 vs 42 to 51%; P < 0.05). This was reflected in a lower rate of blastocysts at Day 6 (9 to 15 vs 31%, P < 0.002). While the blastocyst rate at Day 8 was lower in CX-treated oocytes, the effect was only significant when CX was present for longer than 12 h. A marked decrease in development was noted following inhibition for 18 h or more compared with the control (17 to 19 vs 40%; P < 0.0002). In Experiment 2, addition of either FSH or FCS to oocytes in the presence of CX had no effect on any of the parameters studied, even though there was a positive effect in control oocytes. In Experiment 3, treatment with CX after the oocytes had matured for varying periods resulted in decreased blastocyst rates at Days 6 and 8 of culture. The most significant drop in development occurred when oocytes were cultured for 12 h before exposure to CX (15 vs 40%; P < 0.0001). In conclusion, CX-blocked oocytes retained their developmental competence, although final blastocyst yields were reduced.