Insulin alone can lead to a withdrawal of meiotic arrest in the carp oocyte

In vitro induction of catfish, Clarias batrachus, oocyte maturation by conspecific vitellogenin 1 (CFVg1)

Present study demonstrates that conspecific vitellogenin1 (CFVg1) induces oocyte maturation in the catfish, Clarias batrachus. CFVg1 is able to develop fertilizable eggs in the Clarias batrachus. Therefore, different in vitro oocyte culture experiments were designed to see whether CFVg1 has efficacy of oocyte maturation and its pathway. In in vitro oocyte culture experiment, CFVg1 showed a dose- and time-dependent response and 64% maturation was obtained at the dose level of 10 µg/ml or more. CFVg1 induction of oocyte maturation was confirmed by co-incubating CFVg1 with CFVg1-antiserum (a-CFVg1), which inhibited the CFVg1-induced oocyte maturation. To answer issues lead to the understanding of the mechanism of vitellogenin (Vg) on oocyte maturation, trypsin digested CFVg1 and Indian major carp Cirhinus mrigala Vg HAI (Hydroxy appetite peak I) also showed significant level of maturation. Actinomycin-D and cycloheximide blocked the effect of CFVg1, indicating that CFVg1 acts through transcription and translation. Theophylline, the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, and cAMP also inhibited the stimulatory effect of CFVg1 on oocyte maturation, indicating indirectly that CFVg1-induced oocyte maturation by decreasing the intracellular cAMP possibly by activating the phosphodiesterase enzyme. Trilostane, the 3β-HSD-blocker, did not inhibit the CFVg1-induced oocyte maturation but wortmannin and Ly294002 two mechanistically different specific inhibitors of PI3 kinase blocked the oocyte maturation. The results thus indicate that oocyte maturation in catfish by Vg may be regulated by two pathways: (1) through decreasing the intraoocyte cAMP level by activating the cAMP-PKA pathway and (2) by cAMP-dependent PI3K/Akt pathway. Therefore, there might be role of vitellogenin itself in initiation of oocyte maturation.

Regulation of recombinant human insulin-induced maturational events in Clarias batrachus (L.) oocytes in vitro

Regulation of insulin-mediated resumption of meiotic maturation in catfish oocytes was investigated. Insulin stimulation of post-vitellogenic oocytes promotes the synthesis of cyclin B, histone H1 kinase activation and a germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) response in a dose-dependent and duration-dependent manner. The PI3K inhibitor wortmannin abrogates recombinant human (rh)-insulin action on histone H1 kinase activation and meiotic G2–M1 transition in denuded and follicle-enclosed oocytes in vitro. While the translational inhibitor cycloheximide attenuates rh-insulin action, priming with transcriptional blocker actinomycin D prevents insulin-stimulated maturational response appreciably, albeit in low amounts. Compared with rh-insulin, human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) stimulation of follicle-enclosed oocytes in vitro triggers a sharp increase in 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17α,20β-DHP) secreted in the incubation medium at 12 h. Interestingly, the insulin, but not the hCG-induced, maturational response shows less susceptibility to steroidogenesis inhibitors, trilostane or dl-aminoglutethimide. In addition, priming with phosphodiesterase inhibitor, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) or cell-permeable dbcAMP or adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin reverses the action of insulin on meiotic G2–M1 transition. Conversely, the adenylyl cyclase inhibitor, SQ 22536, or PKA inhibitor H89 promotes the resumption of meiosis alone and further potentiates the GVBD response in the presence of rh-insulin. Furthermore, insulin-mediated meiotic maturation involves the down-regulation of endogenous protein kinase A (PKA) activity in a manner sensitive to PI3K activation, suggesting potential involvement of a cross-talk between cAMP/PKA and insulin-mediated signalling cascade in catfish oocytes in vitro. Taken together, these results suggest that rh-insulin regulation of the maturational response in C. batrachus oocytes involves down-regulation of PKA, synthesis of cyclin B, and histone H1 kinase activation and demonstrates reduced sensitivity to steroidogenesis and transcriptional inhibition.

Estrogen-2/4-hydroxylase activity is stimulated during germinal vesicle breakdown induced by hCG, IGF-1, GH and insulin in the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis

Estrogen-2/4-hydroxylase (EH) activity was measured radiometrically in ovaries of catfish injected with hCG intraperitoneally and in postvitellogenic follicles incubated with different concentrations of hCG, catfish (Clarias batrachus) growth hormone (GH), bovine insulin or recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-I (rhIGF-I). The change in enzyme activity was correlated with germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), an index of oocyte maturation. A single intraperitoneal injection of hCG (100 IU/fish) stimulated EH activity both at 8 and 16 h prior to stripping of eggs. The activity decreased significantly at 24 h, following ovulation. The follicles incubated with hCG, rhIGF-I, insulin or GH elicited biphasic effects on EH activity. rhIGF-I, insulin and GH increased enzyme activity at the lower or median concentrations. hCG and rhIGF-I stimulated EH activity higher than GH or insulin. All the hormones elicited a dose-dependent increase in GVBD, the effect was greater with rhIGF-I (100 nM) and hCG (5.0 IU/ml). The significance of changes in EH activity (E2 hydroxylation) and GVBD were discussed.

In vitro effects of insulin-like growth factors and insulin on oocyte maturation and maturation-inducing steroid production in ovarian follicles of common carp, Cyprinus carpio

In vitro germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) in Cyprinus carpio oocytes was induced by recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-I and -II (IGF-I and IGF-II) and bovine insulin (b-insulin). Treatment of postvitellogenic ovarian follicles with IGF-I and b-insulin increased concentration of maturation-inducing hormone (MIH), 17alpha,20beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnane-3-one (DHP) in the medium. IGF-I and IGF-II both and b-insulin induced GVBD in denuded oocytes. IGF-I analogue R3 IGF-I was more potent than IGF-I in inducing GVBD of postvitellogenic follicles suggesting that ovarian IGF binding proteins may inhibit IGF-I action. Vitellogenic follicles, which were immature for oocytes to complete GVBD in response to DHP or HCG, underwent GVBD by IGF-I, not by b-insulin. IGF-I was also able to stimulate DHP production in such follicles. Addition of DHP and HCG to the culture of vitellogenic follicles containing IGF-I or b-insulin did neither potentiate the stimulation of GVBD induced by IGF-I nor initiate the same in response to b-insulin. Incubation of postvitellogenic follicles with trilostane (3beta-HSD inhibitor) had no inhibitory effects on IGF-I- and b-insulin-induced GVBD but attenuated the same under HCG stimulation. Trilostane, however, strongly inhibited DHP production induced by all these effectors. Induction of GVBD by IGF-I and b-insulin was not altered in the presence of actinomycin D. However, it significantly blocked the HCG-induced GVBD. Cycloheximide was shown to inhibit the induction of GVBD and DHP production by IGF-I, b-insulin and HCG. Both actinomycin D and cycloheximide were found to inhibit DHP production stimulated by all the three effectors. Collectively, these observations indicate that IGF-I and b-insulin can induce GVBD via MIH- and transcription-independent pathway. Incubation of the follicles with gap junction uncouplers, 1-heptanol or 1-octanol, had no effect on IGF-I- and b-insulin-induced GVBD, but attenuated the same induced by HCG. These uncouplers, however, inhibited DHP production induced by IGF-I, b-insulin and HCG. This result suggests that both IGF-I and b-insulin can induce oocyte maturation without coupled gap junction between oocytes and granulosa cells, while homologous gap junctions are required for DHP production. Inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI-3 kinase), wortmannin and LY294002 inhibited GVBD by IGF-I and b-insulin. These two inhibitors also attenuated HCG-induced GVBD. These data suggest that PI-3 kinase activity is required for IGF-I, b-insulin and HCG induction of GVBD in C. carpio.

Cloning of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and its type II receptor from zebrafish ovary and role of TGF-beta 1 in oocyte maturation

TGF-beta is a multifunctional factor involved in regulating a variety of cellular activities. In mammals, TGF-beta is known to regulate reproduction, including ovarian functions. The role of TGF-beta in lower vertebrates, such as fish, is poorly understood. To examine the role of TGF-beta in fish reproduction, cDNAs encoding TGF-beta 1 and the type II TGF-beta receptor (T beta RII) were cloned from the zebrafish ovary using PCR- based strategies. The mature peptide region of the zebrafish TGF-beta 1 shows 70-85% identity with TGF-beta 1 from other species. The zebrafish T beta RII cDNA sequence is the first to be reported from a fish species, and it shows a high level of conservation at the kinase domain. Using RT-PCR, we have detected mRNA expression of TGF-beta 1, T beta RII, as well as its downstream signaling molecules Smad2, 3, and 4 in ovarian follicles at different stages of development. In addition, we have examined the effect of TGF-beta 1 on oocyte maturation. TGF-beta 1 significantly inhibited both gonadotropin- and 17 alpha, 20 beta-dihydroxyprogesterone-induced oocyte maturation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. These findings demonstrate, for the first time, that TGF-beta 1 plays a role in regulating oocyte maturation in fish and suggest that a TGF-beta/Smad signaling pathway is present in the zebrafish ovary.