Role of cumulus cells during maturation of porcine oocytes in the rise in intracellular Ca2+ induced by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate

Short-term hypertonic exposure enhances in vitro follicle growth and meiotic competence of enclosed oocytes while modestly affecting mRNA expression of aquaporin and steroidogenic genes in the domestic cat model

Using the domestic cat as a non-rodent, larger animal model, the objective was to determine the impact of a brief incubation in a hypertonic microenvironment on (1) ovarian follicle and oocyte growth in vitro, (2) developmental capacity of the resident oocyte, and (3) expression of aquaporin (AQP) genes in parallel with genes involved in regulation of folliculogenesis. In Study 1: Secondary or early antral follicles encapsulated in 0.5% alginate were allocated to one of three treatment groups: 1) culture in standard medium at 290 mOsm for 15 d (Control); 2) incubation in 350 mOsm medium for 1 h followed by culture in standard medium for 15 d (Hypertonic-1h); or 3) incubation in 350 mOsm medium for 24 h followed by incubation in standard medium for additional 14 d (Hypertonic-24h). After measuring follicle and oocyte diameters on Day 15, in vitro-grown oocytes were incubated for 24 h before assessing nuclear status. In Study 2: secondary or early antral follicles were subjected to one of the three treatments: 1) culture in standard medium at 290 mOsm for 48 h; 2) incubation in 350 mOsm medium for 1 h followed by culture in standard medium for additional 47 h; or 3) incubation in 350 mOsm medium for 24 h followed by culture in standard medium for additional 24 h. At the end of the culture period, all follicles were assessed for mRNA level of Cyp17a1, Cyp19a1, Star, Aqp1, 3, 5, 7 and 8 as well as Fshr using qPCR. Freshly collected follicles also were subjected to gene expression analysis and served as the 'Non-cultured control'. Hypertonic-24h follicles grew larger (P < 0.05) than the control, whereas those in Hypertonic-1h group exhibited intermediate growth, especially when the culture started at the early antral stage. Oocytes in the Hypertonic-24h group were larger and resumed meiosis at a higher rate than in the other treatments. In vitro culture affected (P < 0.05) mRNA expression of Cyp19a1, Star, Aqp1, and Aqp7 in both the secondary and early antral stage while Fshr was only affected in the former compared to the non-cultured control. Pre-incubating follicles in 350 mOsm medium for 24 h enhanced (P < 0.05) Star and Aqp7 while decreasing (P < 0.05) Aqp1 expression compared to the control in secondary follicles, but not in the early antral stage. In summary, short-term hypertonic exposure promoted cat follicle development in vitro (including the meiotic competence of the enclosed oocyte) possibly through a mechanism that does not involve water transport genes.

Effect of mouse cumulus cells on the in vitro maturation and developmental potential of bovine denuded germinal vesicle oocytes

We investigated the effect mouse cumulus cells (mCCs) on the in vitro maturation (IVM) and developmental potential of bovine denuded germinal vesicle oocytes (DOs). Cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs), DOs and DOs cocultured with either mCCs (DOs + mCCs) or bovine cumulus cells (bCCs; DOs + bCCs) were subjected to IVM. The meiosis II (MII) rates of DOs, glutathione (GSH) contents, zona pellucida (ZP) hardening and parthenogenetic blastocyst rates of MII oocytes were determined. The relative expression levels of bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP-15) and growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9) in MII oocytes were measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). mCCs significantly increased the MII rate of DOs from 53.5 ± 3.58% to 69.67 ± 4.72% (p < 0.05) but had no effect on the GSH content (2.17 ± 0.31 pmol/oocyte with mCCs, 2.14 ± 0.53 pmol/oocyte without mCCs). For the DOs + mCCs group, the BMP-15 and GDF-9 expression levels were significantly higher and the ZP dissolution time was significantly lower (162.49 ± 12.51 s) than that of the DOs group (213.95 ± 18.87 s; p < 0.05). The blastocyst rate of the DOs + mCCs group (32.56 ± 4.94%) was similar to that of the DOs group (31.75 ± 3.65%) but was significantly lower than that of the COCs group (43.52 ± 5.37%; p < 0.05). In conclusion, mCCs increased the MII rate of DOs and expression of certain genes in MII oocytes, and decreased the ZP hardening of MII oocytes, but could not improve their GSH content or developmental potential.

Nitric oxide-donor SNAP induces Xenopus eggs activation

Nitric oxide (NO) is identified as a signaling molecule involved in many cellular or physiological functions including meiotic maturation and parthenogenetic activation of mammalian oocytes. We observed that nitric oxide donor SNAP was potent to induce parthenogenetic activation in Xenopus eggs. NO-scavenger CPTIO impaired the effects of SNAP, providing evidence for the effects of the latter to be specific upon NO release. In Xenopus eggs, SNAP treatment induced pigment rearrangement, pronucleus formation and exocytosis of cortical granules. At a biochemical level, SNAP exposure lead to MAPK and Rsk inactivation within 30 minutes whereas MPF remained active, in contrast to calcium ionophore control where MPF activity dropped rapidly. MAPK inactivation could be correlated to pronuclear envelope reformation observed. In SNAP-treated eggs, a strong increase in intracellular calcium level was observed. NO effects were impaired in calcium-free or calcium limited medium, suggesting that that parthenogenetic activation of Xenopus oocytes with a NO donor was mainly calcium-dependent.

The cumulus cell gene expression profile of oocytes with different nuclear maturity and potential for blastocyst formation

PURPOSE

Gene expression in human ART cumulus cell (CC) has been related to oocyte maturity and competence but requires further validation. Expression dynamics were investigated in CC of oocytes at different maturational stages and with different developmental competence in a standard in vivo mouse superovulation model.

METHODS

Quantitative PCR analysis of Has2, Vcan, Sdc4, Alcam, Grem1, Ptgs1 and Ptgs2 in CC collected at regular time intervals from 0 to 24 h post hCG injection.

RESULTS

Three expression patterns were observed each with strong regulation (4-230× differences). Immediately prior to ovulation CC of GVBD oocytes have 5× less Sdc4 and Ptgs1 and 5× more Ptgs2 when compared to the CC of freshly ovulated PB oocytes. When compared to the latter, the post-ovulatory aged PB oocytes had a 2× reduced blastocyst forming capacity and their CC expressed 2× more Sdc4 and 6× less Alcam.

CONCLUSIONS

Morphologically identical cumulus oocyte complexes with different developmental competence can be differentiated by CC gene expression.

Proteomics-based systems biology modeling of bovine germinal vesicle stage oocyte and cumulus cell interaction

Background

Oocytes are the female gametes which establish the program of life after fertilization. Interactions between oocyte and the surrounding cumulus cells at germinal vesicle (GV) stage are considered essential for proper maturation or ‘programming’ of oocytes, which is crucial for normal fertilization and embryonic development. However, despite its importance, little is known about the molecular events and pathways involved in this bidirectional communication.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We used differential detergent fractionation multidimensional protein identification technology (DDF-Mud PIT) on bovine GV oocyte and cumulus cells and identified 811 and 1247 proteins in GV oocyte and cumulus cells, respectively; 371 proteins were significantly differentially expressed between each cell type. Systems biology modeling, which included Gene Ontology (GO) and canonical genetic pathway analysis, showed that cumulus cells have higher expression of proteins involved in cell communication, generation of precursor metabolites and energy, as well as transport than GV oocytes. Our data also suggests a hypothesis that oocytes may depend on the presence of cumulus cells to generate specific cellular signals to coordinate their growth and maturation.

Conclusions/Significance

Systems biology modeling of bovine oocytes and cumulus cells in the context of GO and protein interaction networks identified the signaling pathways associated with the proteins involved in cell-to-cell signaling biological process that may have implications in oocyte competence and maturation. This first comprehensive systems biology modeling of bovine oocytes and cumulus cell proteomes not only provides a foundation for signaling and cell physiology at the GV stage of oocyte development, but are also valuable for comparative studies of other stages of oocyte development at the molecular level.

Sonic hedgehog promotes porcine oocyte maturation and early embryo development

In the present study, we investigated the effects of the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) protein on porcine oocyte maturation and early embryo development. Immunohistochemistry showed activation of Shh signalling in cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs), as reflected by Patched (Ptc), Smoothened (Smo) and Gli1 expression in oocytes, cumulus cells and granulosa cells, particularly those of small follicles (<2 mm in diameter). Western blot analysis showed Smo expression in COCs and in denuded oocytes derived from small and medium (3–7 mm)-sized follicles. Small follicles contained the highest concentration of Shh in follicular fluid compared with medium-sized and large (>7 mm in diameter) follicles. Supplementation with Shh (0.5 or 1 μg mL–1) enhanced oocyte maturation compared with the control group (92.4% and 90.4% v. 81.9%, respectively; P < 0.05). This effect was reversed by the simultaneous addition of cyclopamine (1–2 μm), an Shh inhibitor. Similar to intact COCs, denuded COCs showed enhanced maturation following Shh supplementation. Furthermore, cyclin B1 content, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation, intracellular calcium release, blastocyst rate and total cell numbers were greater (P < 0.05) in oocytes matured in the presence of 0.5 and 1 μg mL–1 Shh compared with control oocytes. The findings of the present study provide the first evidence that the Shh signalling pathway is active, or at least partially activated, in the porcine ovary and is likely to promote oocyte cytoplasmic and nuclear maturation, as well as subsequent in vitro development, although the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated.

Identification of novel bovine cumulus cell molecular markers predictive of oocyte competence: functional and diagnostic implications

The present study was undertaken to discover molecular markers in bovine cumulus cells predictive of oocyte competence and to elucidate their functional significance. Differences in RNA transcript abundance in cumulus cells harvested from oocytes of adult versus prepubertal animals (a model of poor oocyte quality) were identified by microarray analysis. Four genes of interest encoding for the lysosomal cysteine proteinases cathepsins B, S, K, and Z and displaying greater transcript abundance in cumulus cells surrounding oocytes harvested from prepubertal animals were chosen for further investigation. Greater mRNA abundance for such genes in cumulus cells of prepubertal oocytes was confirmed by real-time RT-PCR. Elevated transcript abundance for cathepsins B, S, and Z also was observed in cumulus cells surrounding adult metaphase II oocytes that developed to the blastocyst stage at a low percentage following parthenogenetic activation versus those that developed at a high percentage. Functional significance of cumulus cell cathepsin expression to oocyte competence was confirmed by treatment of cumulus-oocyte complexes during in vitro oocyte maturation with a cell-permeable cysteine proteinase (cathepsin) inhibitor. Inhibitor treatment decreased apoptotic nuclei in the cumulus layer and enhanced development of parthenogenetically activated and in vitro-fertilized adult oocytes to the blastocyst stage. Stimulatory effects of inhibitor treatment during meiotic maturation on subsequent embryonic development were not observed when oocytes were matured in the absence of cumulus cells. The present results support a functional role for cumulus cell cathepsins in compromised oocyte competence and suggest that cumulus cell cathepsin mRNA abundance may be predictive of oocyte quality.

In vitro maturation of human oocytes in a follicle-mimicking three-dimensional coculture

OBJECTIVE

To verify the hypothesis that a three-dimensional, follicle-mimicking structure enhances in vitro maturation yields without hormonal supplementation in an in vitro maturation program.

DESIGN

Feasibility study; 204 anonymous denuded germinal vesicles retrieved from gonadotropin-treated women were cultured for 48 hours without hormonal supplementation in microdrop culture or in a three-dimensional coculture with granulosa cells in a barium alginate membrane.

SETTING

An assisted reproduction center in Italy.

PATIENT(S)

One hundred twenty-two informed women.

INTERVENTION(S)

Germinal vesicles retrieved after ovarian stimulation were denuded and cultured without hormonal supplementation in microdrop culture or in a three-dimensional coculture with granulosa cells enclosed in the core of a barium alginate capsule.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Oocyte maturation and morphological investigation of follicle-mimicking structures.

RESULT(S)

Statistically significantly higher oocyte maturation yields were obtained by using the three-dimensional coculture system enclosed in a barium alginate membrane (after 48 hours: coculture, 90.3%; microdrop, 52.0%; odds ratio, 8.51). Morphological investigation indicated that after 48 hours of coculture, the decumulated oocyte appeared to be surrounded by a pseudocumulus structure that lies on the inner surface of the alginate membrane and protrudes toward the capsule's lumen.

CONCLUSION(S)

The maturation yield of cocultured oocytes is eightfold higher than that achieved with a microdrop maturation technique, making a higher number of gametes available for IVF programs. Stereomicroscopic morphological survey indicates a reassembly of granulosa cells surrounding oocyte zona, mimicking an antral cumulus oophorus.