Meiotic and developmental competence of growing pig oocytes derived from small antral follicles is enhanced in culture medium containing FGF2, LIF, and IGF1 (FLI medium)

BACKGROUND

Oocytes of large animal species isolated from small ovarian follicles (< 2 mm) are less competent to support early embryonic development after in vitro maturation and fertilization than their counterparts isolated from medium-sized and preovulatory follicles. This study aimed to assess the effect of a new maturation medium containing FGF2, LIF, and IGF1 (FLI medium) on the meiotic and developmental competence of pig cumulus-oocytes complexes (COCs) derived from the small and medium-sized follicles.

METHODS

The growing oocytes were isolated from 1 to 2 (small follicle; SF) and the fully-grown ones from 3 to 6 (large follicle; LF) mm follicles and matured in a control M199 medium with gonadotropins and EGF and the FLI medium enriched by the triplet of growth factors. The matured oocytes were parthenogenetically activated and cultured to the blastocyst stage. Chromatin configuration before and during the culture and MAP kinase activity were assessed in the oocytes. Finally, the expression of cumulus cell genes previously identified as markers of oocyte quality was assessed.

RESULTS

The maturation and blastocyst rates of oocytes gained from LF were significantly higher than that from SF in the control medium. In contrast, similar proportions of oocytes from LF and SF completed meiosis and developed to blastocysts when cultured in FLI. Most of the oocytes freshly isolated from SF possessed germinal vesicles with fine filaments of chromatin (GV0) or chromatin surrounding the nucleolus (GVI; 30%); the oocytes from LF were mainly in GVI (or GVII) exhibiting a few small lumps of chromatin beneath the nuclear membrane. When cultured in the FLI medium for 16 h, an acceleration of the course of maturation in oocytes both from SF and LF compared to the control medium was observed and a remarkable synchrony in the course of chromatin remodeling was noticed in oocytes from SF and LF.

CONCLUSIONS

This work demonstrates that the enrichment of culture medium by FGF2, LIF, and IGF1 can enhance the meiotic and developmental competence of not only fully-grown, but also growing pig oocytes and significantly thus expanding the number of oocytes available for various assisted reproductive technology applications.

Lab partners: oocytes, embryos and company. A personal view on aspects of oocyte maturation and the development of monozygotic twins

The present review addresses the oocyte and the preimplantation embryo, and is intended to highlight the underlying principle of the "nature versus/and nurture" question. Given the diversity in mammalian oocyte maturation, this review will not be comprehensive but instead will focus on the porcine oocyte. Historically, oogenesis was seen as the development of a passive cell nursed and determined by its somatic compartment. Currently, the advanced analysis of the cross-talk between the maternal environment and the oocyte shows a more balanced relationship: Granulosa cells nurse the oocyte, whereas the latter secretes diffusible factors that regulate proliferation and differentiation of the granulosa cells. Signal molecules of the granulosa cells either prevent the precocious initiation of meiotic maturation or enable oocyte maturation following hormonal stimulation. A similar question emerges in research on monozygotic twins or multiples: In Greek and medieval times, twins were not seen as the result of the common course of nature but were classified as faults. This seems still valid today for the rare and until now mainly unknown genesis of facultative monozygotic twins in mammals. Monozygotic twins are unique subjects for studies of the conceptus-maternal dialogue, the intra-pair similarity and dissimilarity, and the elucidation of the interplay between nature and nurture. In the course of in vivo collections of preimplantation sheep embryos and experiments on embryo splitting and other microsurgical interventions we recorded observations on double blastocysts within a single zona pellucida, double inner cell masses in zona-enclosed blastocysts and double germinal discs in elongating embryos. On the basis of these observations we add some pieces to the puzzle of the post-zygotic genesis of monozygotic twins and on maternal influences on the developing conceptus.

Effects of exportin 1 on nuclear transport and meiotic resumption in porcine full-grown and growing oocytes

Exportin 1 (XPO1) is a nuclear transport receptor involved in the nuclear export of majority proteins in somatic cells. In mammalian oocytes, however, only the presence of XPO1 has been reported at mRNA and protein levels, and the definitive functions of XPO1 and its effects on the meiotic maturation of oocytes have never been directly examined. In the present study, the expression state and the nuclear-export function of porcine XPO1 were analyzed in porcine oocytes. In addition, we investigated the effects of the overexpression and inhibition of XPO1 on meiotic regulation in full-grown and growing oocytes by mRNA injection and inhibitor treatment. Endogenous XPO1 was stably expressed in porcine oocytes during the germinal vesicle (GV) stage, and the expression of exogenous XPO1 significantly decreased the nuclear localization of XPO1 cargos, snurportin 1, and WEE1B. Inhibition of XPO1 by a specific inhibitor, leptomycin B, delayed the GV breakdown (GVBD), whereas the overexpression of XPO1 by mRNA injection accelerated the GVBD. XPO1 overexpression overcame the meiotic arrest induced by WEE1B expression in full-grown oocytes. Surprisingly, the GVBD of porcine growing oocytes, which could not resume meiosis by the maturation culture in vitro, was induced by the expression of exogenous XPO1. These results showed the presence of XPO1 and its function as a nuclear export receptor in mammalian oocytes, including growing oocytes, and they suggest that the regulation of nuclear transport has a large influence on the GV maintenance and meiotic resumption of oocytes.

Regulation of Mammalian Oocyte Meiosis by Intercellular Communication Within the Ovarian Follicle

Meiotic progression in mammalian preovulatory follicles is controlled by the granulosa cells around the oocyte. Cyclic GMP (cGMP) generated in the granulosa cells diffuses through gap junctions into the oocyte, maintaining meiotic prophase arrest. Luteinizing hormone then acts on receptors in outer granulosa cells to rapidly decrease cGMP. This occurs by two complementary pathways: cGMP production is decreased by dephosphorylation and inactivation of the NPR2 guanylyl cyclase, and cGMP hydrolysis is increased by activation of the PDE5 phosphodiesterase. The cGMP decrease in the granulosa cells results in rapid cGMP diffusion out of the oocyte, initiating meiotic resumption. Additional, more slowly developing mechanisms involving paracrine signaling by extracellular peptides (C-type natriuretic peptide and EGF receptor ligands) maintain the low level of cGMP in the oocyte. These coordinated signaling pathways ensure a fail-safe system to prepare the oocyte for fertilization and reproductive success.

The regulation of maturation promoting factor during prophase I arrest and meiotic entry in mammalian oocytes

Mammalian oocytes arrest at prophase of meiosis I at around birth and they remain arrested at this stage until puberty when the preovulatory surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) causes ovulation. Prophase I arrest in the immature oocyte results from the maintenance of low activity of maturation promoting factor (MPF), which consists of a catalytic subunit (CDK1) and regulatory subunit (cyclin B1). Phosphorylation-mediated inactivation of CDK1 and constant degradation of cyclin B1 keep MPF activity low during prophase I arrest. LH-mediated signaling manipulates a vast array of molecules to activate CDK1. Active CDK1 not only phosphorylates different meiotic phosphoproteins during the resumption of meiosis but also inhibits their rapid dephosphorylation by inhibiting the activities of CDK1 antagonizing protein phosphatases (PPs). In this way, CDK1 both phosphorylates its substrates and protects them from being dephosphorylated. Accumulating evidence suggests that the net MPF activity that drives the resumption of meiosis in oocytes depends on the activation status of CDK1 antagonizing PPs. This review aims to provide a summary of the current understanding of the signaling pathways involved in regulating MPF activity during prophase I arrest and reentry into meiosis of mammalian oocytes.

Production of fertile offspring from oocytes grown in vitro by nuclear transfer in cattle

Because of recent advancements in reproductive technology, oocytes have attained an increasingly enriched value as a unique cell population in the production of offspring. The growing oocytes in the ovary are an immediate potential source that serve this need; however, complete oocyte growth before use is crucial. Our research objective was to create in vitro-grown (IVG) oocytes that would have the ability to perform specialized activities, including nuclear reprogramming, as an alternative to in vivo-grown oocytes. Bovine oocyte-granulosa cell complexes with a mean oocyte diameter of approximately 100 μm were cultured on Millicell membrane inserts, with culture medium supplemented with 4% polyvinylpyrrolidone (molecular weight, 360,000), 20 ng/ml androstenedione, 2 mM hypoxanthine, and 5 ng/ml bone morphogenetic protein 7. Oocyte viability after the 14-day culture period was 95%, and there was a 71% increase in oocyte volume. Upon induction of oocyte maturation, 61% of the IVG oocytes extruded a polar body. Eighty-four percent of the reconstructed IVG oocytes that used cumulus cells as donor cells underwent cleavage, and half of them became blastocysts. DNA methylation analyses of the satellite I and II regions of the blastocysts revealed a similar highly methylated status in the cloned embryos derived from in vivo-grown and IVG oocytes. Finally, one of the nine embryos reconstructed from the IVG oocytes developed into a living calf following embryo transfer. Fertility of the offspring was confirmed. In conclusion, the potential of a proportion of the IVG oocytes was comparable to that of in vivo-grown oocytes.

Simultaneously expressed miR-424 and miR-381 synergistically suppress the proliferation and survival of renal cancer cells---Cdc2 activity is up-regulated by targeting WEE1

OBJECTIVES

MiRNAs are intrinsic RNAs that interfere with protein translation. Few studies on the synergistic effects of miRNAs have been reported. Both miR-424 and miR-381 have been individually reported to be involved in carcinogenesis. They share a common putative target, WEE1, which is described as an inhibitor of G2/M progression. Here, we studied the synergistic effects of miR-424 and miR-381 on renal cancer cells.

METHODS

The viability of 786-O cells was analyzed after transfection with either a combination of miR-424 and miR-381 or each miRNA alone. We investigated cell cycle progression and apoptosis with flow cytometry. To confirm apoptosis and the abrogation of G2/M arrest, we determined the level of pHH3, which is an indicator of mitosis, and caspase-3/7 activity. The expression levels of WEE1, Cdc25, γH2AX, and Cdc2 were manipulated to investigate the roles of these proteins in the miRNA-induced anti-tumor effects. To verify that WEE1 was a direct target of both miR-424 and miR-381, we performed a dual luciferase reporter assay.

RESULTS

We showed that the combination of these miRNAs synergistically inhibited proliferation, abrogated G2/M arrest, and induced apoptosis. This combination led to Cdc2 activation through WEE1 inhibition. This regulation was more effective when cells were treated with both miRNAs than with either miRNA alone, indicating synergy between these miRNAs. WEE1 was verified to be a direct target of each miRNA according to the luciferase reporter assay.

CONCLUSIONS

These data clearly demonstrate that these two miRNAs might synergistically act as novel modulators of tumorigenesis by down-regulating WEE1 expression in renal cell cancer cells.

A-kinase anchor protein 1 (AKAP1) regulates cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) localization and is involved in meiotic maturation of porcine oocytes

In mammalian oocytes, cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) has critical functions in meiotic arrest and meiotic maturation. Although subcellular localization of PKA is regulated by A-kinase anchor proteins (AKAPs) and PKA compartmentalization is essential for PKA functions, the role of AKAPs in meiotic regulation has not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we performed far-Western blot analysis using porcine PRKAR2A for detection of AKAPs and found, to our knowledge, several novel signals in porcine oocytes. Among these signals, a 150-kDa AKAP showed the major expression and was the product of porcine AKAP1. Overexpression of AKAP1 changed the PKA localization and promoted meiotic resumption of porcine oocytes even in the presence of a high concentration of cAMP, which inhibits meiotic resumption by inducing high PKA activity. On the contrary, knockdown of AKAP1 showed inhibitory effects on meiotic resumption and oocyte maturation. In addition, the expression level of AKAP1 in porcine growing oocytes, which show meiotic incompetence and PKA mislocalization, was significantly lower than that in fully grown oocytes. However, AKAP1 insufficiency was not the primary cause of the meiotic incompetence of the growing oocytes. These results suggest that the regulation of PKA localization by AKAP1 may be involved in meiotic resumption and oocyte maturation but not in meiotic incompetence of porcine growing oocytes.

Analyses of the involvement of PKA regulation mechanism in meiotic incompetence of porcine growing oocytes

Mammalian growing oocytes (GOs) lack the ability to resume meiosis, although the molecular mechanism of this limitation is not fully understood. In the present study, we cloned cDNAs of cAMP-dependent protein-kinase (PKA) subunits from porcine oocytes and analyzed the involvement of the PKA regulation mechanism in the meiotic incompetence of GOs at the molecular level. We found a cAMP-independent high PKA activity in GOs throughout the in vitro culture using a porcine PKA assay system we established, and inhibition of the activity by injection of the antisense RNA of the PKA catalytic subunit (PKA-C) induced meiotic resumption in GOs. Then we examined the possibility that the amount of the PKA regulatory subunit (PKA-R), which can bind and inhibit PKA-C, was insufficient to suppress PKA activity in GOs because of the overexpression of two PKA-Rs, PRKAR1A and PRKAR2A. We found that neither of them affected PKA activity and induced meiotic resumption in GO although PRKAR2A could inhibit PKA activity and induce meiosis in cAMP-treated full-grown oocytes (FGOs). Finally, we analyzed the subcellular localization of PKA subunits and found that all the subunits were localized in the cytoplasm during meiotic arrest and that PKA-C and PRKAR2A, but not PRKAR1A, entered into the nucleus just before meiotic resumption in FGOs, whereas all of them remained in the cytoplasm in GOs throughout the culture period. Our findings suggest that the continuous high PKA activity is a primary cause of the meiotic incompetence of porcine GOs and that this PKA activity is not simply caused by an insufficient expression level of PKA-R, but can be attributed to more complex spatial-temporal regulation mechanisms.

Porcine nuclei in early growing stage do not possess meiotic competence in matured oocytes

To determine whether the nuclei of early growing stage porcine oocytes can mature to the MII stage, we examined meiotic competence of nuclei that had been fused with enucleated GV oocytes using the nuclear transfer method. In vitro matured oocytes were enucleated and then fused with early growing oocytes (30-40 μm in diameter) from 5 to 7-wk-old piglets using the hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ). Reconstructed oocytes were cultured for 24 h to the MII stage. Although these oocytes extruded the first polar body, they did not contain normal haploid chromosomes, and the spindles were misaligned or absent at the metaphase II (MII) stage. Furthermore, maturation promoting factor (MPF) activity levels were low in oocytes reconstructed with early growing oocytes at metaphase I (MI) and MII. In contrast, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity was detected between the MI and MII stages, although at slightly lower levels. In conclusion, the nuclei of early growing oocytes did not accomplish normal meiotic division in matured oocytes due to misaligned or absent spindle formation.

Nucleoli from growing oocytes inhibit the maturation of enucleolated, full-grown oocytes in the pig

In mammals, the nucleolus of full-grown oocyte is essential for embryonic development but not for oocyte maturation. In our study, the role of the growing oocyte nucleolus in oocyte maturation was examined by nucleolus removal and/or transfer into previously enucleolated, growing (around 100 µm in diameter) or full-grown (120 µm) pig oocytes. In the first experiment, the nucleoli were aspirated from growing oocytes whose nucleoli had been compacted by actinomycin D treatment, and the enucleolated oocytes were matured in vitro. Most of non-treated or actinomycin D-treated oocytes did not undergo germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD; 13% and 12%, respectively). However, the GVBD rate of enucleolated, growing oocytes significantly increased to 46%. The low GVBD rate of enucleolated, growing oocytes was restored again by the re-injection of nucleoli from growing oocytes (23%), but not when nucleoli from full-grown oocytes were re-injected into enucleolated, growing oocytes (49%). When enucleolated, full-grown oocytes were injected with nucleoli from growing or full-grown oocytes, the nucleolus in the germinal vesicle was reassembled (73% and 60%, respectively). After maturation, the enucleolated, full-grown oocytes injected with nucleoli from full-grown oocytes matured to metaphase II (56%), whereas injection with growing-oocyte nucleoli reduced this maturation to 21%. These results suggest that the growing-oocyte nucleolus is involved in the oocyte's meiotic arrest, and that the full-grown oocyte nucleolus has lost the ability.

A combination of FSH and dibutyryl cyclic AMP promote growth and acquisition of meiotic competence of oocytes from early porcine antral follicles

Growing porcine oocytes from early antral follicles (1.2-1.5 mm in diameter) do not mature to metaphase II (MII, 4%) under culture conditions which supported maturation (MII, 95%) of fully grown oocytes from large (4-6 mm) antral follicles. We hypothesized that FSH and dbcAMP supported growth and acquisition of meiotic competence. Growing oocytes (113.0 ± 0.4 μm, mean ± SEM) were cultured for 5 d in medium supplemented with 1 mM dbcAMP, 0.01 IU/mL FSH or both; in these media, oocytes reached, 120.5 ± 0.4, 123.5 ± 0.4 and 125.7 ± 0.2 μm, respectively, after 5 d, and then were matured in vitro for 48 h. Oocytes remained enclosed by cumulus cells when cultured with FSH (82%) or both FSH and dbcAMP (80%), but not with dbcAMP alone (0%). Furthermore, oocytes cultured with FSH maintained trans-zonal projections of cumulus cells. Oocytes remained at the GV stage at higher rates when cultured with dbcAMP and FSH (99%), or dbcAMP (97%), than with FSH (64%), or without either (75%). Following in vitro maturation, oocytes reached MII after in vitro growth with dbcAMP (19%), FSH (11%), or both (68%). When oocytes were cultured with both FSH and dbcAMP, activation of Cdc2 and MAP kinases in growing oocytes was similar to fully grown oocytes. In conclusion, growing porcine oocytes grew and acquired meiotic competence in medium supplemented with dbcAMP and FSH; the former maintained oocytes in meiotic arrest, whereas the latter maintained trans-zonal projections of cumulus cells to oocytes during in vitro growth culture.

WEE2 is an oocyte-specific meiosis inhibitor in rhesus macaque monkeys

WEE1 homolog 2 (WEE2, also known as WEE1B) is a newly identified member of the WEE kinase family that is conserved from yeast to humans. The aim of the present study was to determine the spatiotemporal expression pattern and the function of WEE2 during oocyte maturation in a nonhuman primate species, the rhesus macaque. Among 11 macaque tissues examined, WEE2 transcript is predominantly expressed in the ovary and only weakly detectable in the testis. Within the ovary, WEE2 mRNA is exclusively localized in the oocyte and appears to accumulate during folliculogenesis, reaching the highest level in preovulatory follicles. Microinjection of a full-length WEE2-GFP (green fluorescent protein) fusion mRNA indicates a specific nuclear localization of WEE2 protein in both growing and fully grown germinal vesicle (GV)-intact oocytes. Taking the long double-stranded RNA-mediated RNA interference approach, we found that down-regulation of WEE2 led to meiotic resumption in a subset of GV oocytes even in the presence of a phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor. On the other hand, overexpression of WEE2 delays the reentry of oocytes into meiosis in both mice and monkeys. These findings suggest that WEE2 is a conserved oocyte-specific meiosis inhibitor that functions downstream of cAMP in nonhuman primates.