Persistent organic pollutants affect steroidogenic and apoptotic activities in granulosa cells and reactive oxygen species concentrations in oocytes in the mouse

CONTEXT

The destruction of granulosa cells (GCs), the main functional cell type in the ovary, prevents steroid hormone production, which in turn may damage oocytes, resulting in ovarian failure. The accumulation of a number of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the ovarian follicular fluid (FF) has been documented, which raises serious questions regarding their impact on female fertility.

AIMS

We aimed to determine whether a mixture of POPs reflecting the profile found in FF influences mouse GCs or oocyte function and viability.

METHODS

A mixture of POPs, comprising perfluorooctanoate, perfluorooctane sulfonate, 2,2-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene, polychlorinated biphenyl 153, and hexachlorobenzene, was used. In addition to using the exact concentration of POPs previously measured in human FF, we tested two other mixtures, one with10-fold lower and another with 10-fold higher concentrations of each POP.

KEY RESULTS

Steroidogenesis was disrupted in GCs by the POP mixture, as demonstrated by lower oestradiol and progesterone secretion and greater lipid droplet accumulation. Furthermore, the POP mixture reduced GC viability and increased apoptosis, assessed using caspase-3 activity. The POP mixture significantly increased the number of oocytes that successfully progressed to the second meiotic metaphase and the oocyte reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration.

CONCLUSIONS

Thus, a mixture of POPs that are typically present in human FF has detrimental effects on ovarian function: it reduces the viability of GCs, and increases the oocyte concentrations of ROS.

IMPLICATIONS

These results indicate that chronic exposure to POPs adversely affects female reproductive health.

Spindle assembly checkpoint regulation of chromosome segregation in mammalian oocytes

The spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) is a surveillance mechanism that monitors the quality of the spindle during division and blocks anaphase entry in the presence of anomalies that could result in erroneous segregation of the chromosomes. Because human aneuploidy is mainly linked to the erroneous segregation of genetic material in oocytes, the issue of the effectiveness of the SAC in female meiosis is especially important. The present review summarises our understanding of the SAC control of mammalian oocyte meiosis, including its possible impact on the incidence of embryonic aneuploidy. Owing to the peculiarities of cell cycle control in female meiosis, the integration of the SAC within such a specific environment results in several unusual situations, which are also discussed.

Free-hand bisection of mouse oocytes and embryos

Mouse oocytes and zygotes are semitransparent and large cells approximately 80 μm in diameter. Bisection is one of the easiest ways for performing micromanipulations on such cells. It allows living sister halves or smaller fragments to be obtained, which can be cultured and observed for long periods of time. Bisection can be used for different kinds of experiments such as analysis of nucleo-cytoplasmic interactions, the relationship between different cellular structures or between different parts of embryos, eventually for analyzing the developmental potential of embryonic fragments. Oocyte or embryo halves can be examined by immunostaining, by measuring different cellular functions and by Western blot and genetic analysis (e.g., RT-PCR). Here we describe a detailed protocol for the free-hand bisection of mouse zona pellucida-free oocytes and embryos on an agar layer using a glass needle.

DNA methylation, histone modifications and behaviour of AKAP95 during mouse oocyte growth and upon nuclear transfer of foreign chromatin into fully grown prophase oocytes

The poor efficiency of mammalian cloning is due to inappropriate/incomplete epigenetic reprogramming of the donor chromatin. As the success in reprogramming of the donor nucleus may require activity of similar mechanisms which reprogram the chromatin in the course of gametogenesis, we decided to follow the status of some epigenetic markers in the late phase of oogenesis in mice, i.e. in prophase oocytes during their growth and after completion of the growth phase. Our analysis reveals an increase in the level of global DNA methylation starting in oocytes with diameters around 60 microm which was further elevated until completion of oocyte growth. A similar increase was observed in respect to the acetylation of histone H4. On the other hand, the methylation of histone H4 Arg3 was constantly high until the end of oocyte growth, although it differed between fully grown oocytes depending on the type of spatial chromatin organization. We have also studied the AKAP95 protein which was abundant at earlier stages but decreased in fully grown oocytes according to changes in their chromatin organization. The nuclear transfer of different types of donor nuclei with hypomethylated DNA into fully grown prophase oocytes did not increase the global level of methylation of transferred foreign chromatin, regardless if the recipient oocyte was devoid of its own nucleus or its nucleus was left intact. This suggests a major problem in the ability of recipient oocytes to modify donor DNA methylation.

Restricted Myogenic Potential of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Isolated from Umbilical Cord

Nonhematopoietic cord blood cells and mesenchymal cells of umbilical cord Wharton's jelly have been shown to be able to differentiate into various cell types. Thus, as they are readily available and do not raise any ethical issues, these cells are considered to be a potential source of material that can be used in regenerative medicine. In our previous study, we tested the potential of whole mononucleated fraction of human umbilical cord blood cells and showed that they are able to participate in the regeneration of injured mouse skeletal muscle. In the current study, we focused at the umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells isolated from Wharton's jelly. We documented that limited fraction of these cells express markers of pluripotent and myogenic cells. Moreover, they are able to undergo myogenic differentiation in vitro, as proved by coculture with C2C12 myoblasts. They also colonize injured skeletal muscle and, with low frequency, participate in the formation of new muscle fibers. Pretreatment of Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stromal cells with SDF-1 has no impact on their incorporation into regenerating muscle fibers but significantly increased muscle mass. As a result, transplantation of mesenchymal stromal cells enhances the skeletal muscle regeneration.

Spindle assembly checkpoint-related meiotic defect in oocytes from LT/Sv mice has cytoplasmic origin and diminishes in older females

The spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) ensures proper segregation of chromosomes by delaying anaphase onset until all kinetochores are properly attached to the spindle microtubules. Oocytes from the mouse strain LT/Sv arrest at the first meiotic metaphase (MI) due to, as reported recently, enormously prolonged activity of the SAC. We compared the dynamics of cyclin B1-GFP degradation, the process which is a measure of the SAC activity, in chromosomal and achromosomal halves of LT/Sv oocytes. In chromosome-containing oocyte halves arrested at MI, cyclin B1-GFP was not degraded indicating active SAC. However, in the halves lacking chromosomes, which is a condition precluding the SAC function, degradation always occurred confirming that MI arrest in LT/Sv oocytes is SAC dependent. Transferring the germinal vesicle (GV) from LT/Sv oocytes into the enucleated oocytes from wild-type mice resulted in the progression through meiosis one, indicating that a SAC-activating defect in LT/Sv oocytes is cytoplasmic, yet can be rescued by foreign cytoplasm. These results may help to define the etiology of the human infertility related to the oocyte MI arrest, indicating the involvement of the SAC as likely candidate, and point to GV transfer as the possible therapy. Finally, we found that majority of oocytes isolated from old LT/Sv mice complete the first meiosis. Reciprocal transfers of the GV between the oocytes from young and old LT/Sv females suggest that the factor(s) responsible for the reversal of the phenotype in oocytes from old mice is located both in the GV and in the cytoplasm.

A single bivalent efficiently inhibits cyclin B1 degradation and polar body extrusion in mouse oocytes indicating robust SAC during female meiosis I

The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint (SAC) inhibits anaphase until microtubule-to-kinetochore attachments are formed, thus securing correct chromosome separation and preventing aneuploidy. Whereas in mitosis even a single unattached chromosome keeps the SAC active, the high incidence of aneuploidy related to maternal meiotic errors raises a concern about the lower efficiency of SAC in oocytes. Recently it was suggested that in mouse oocytes, contrary to somatic cells, not a single chromosome but a critical mass of chromosomes triggers efficient SAC pointing to the necessity of evaluating the robustness of SAC in oocytes. Two types of errors in chromosome segregation upon meiosis I related to SAC were envisaged: (1) SAC escape, when kinetochores emit SAC-activating signal unable to stop anaphase I; and (2) SAC deceive, when kinetochores do not emit the signal. Using micromanipulations and live imaging of the first polar body extrusion, as well as the dynamics of cyclin B1 degradation, here we show that in mouse oocytes a single bivalent keeps the SAC active. This is the first direct evaluation of SAC efficiency in mouse oocytes, which provides strong evidence that the robustness of SAC in mammalian oocytes is comparable to other cell types. Our data do not contradict the hypothesis of the critical mass of chromosomes necessary for SAC activation, but suggest that the same rule may govern SAC activity also in other cell types. We postulate that the innate susceptibility of oocytes to errors in chromosome segregation during the first meiotic division may not be caused by lower efficiency of SAC itself, but could be linked to high critical chromosome mass necessary to keep SAC active in oocyte of large size.

Spindle assembly checkpoint-related failure perturbs early embryonic divisions and reduces reproductive performance of LT/Sv mice

The phenotype of the LT/Sv strain of mice is manifested by abnormalities in oocyte meiotic cell-cycle, spontaneous parthenogenetic activation, teratomas formation, and frequent occurrence of embryonic triploidy. These abnormalities lead to the low rate of reproductive success. Recently, metaphase I arrest of LT/Sv oocytes has been attributed to the inability to timely inactivate the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). As differences in meiotic and mitotic SAC functioning were described, it remains obscure whether this abnormality is limited to the meiosis or also impinges on the mitotic divisions of LT/Sv embryos. Here, we show that a failure to inactivate SAC affects mitoses during preimplantation development of LT/Sv embryos. This is manifested by the prolonged localization of MAD2L1 on kinetochores of mitotic chromosomes and abnormally lengthened early embryonic M-phases. Moreover, LT/Sv embryos exhibit elevated frequency of abnormal chromosome separation during the first mitotic division. These abnormalities participate in severe impairment of preimplantation development and significantly decrease the reproductive success of this strain of mice. Thus, the common meiosis and mitosis SAC-related failure participates in a complex LT/Sv phenotype.

Metaphase I arrest in LT/Sv mouse oocytes involves the spindle assembly checkpoint

During meiotic maturation, the majority of oocytes from LT/Sv mice arrest at metaphase I. However, anaphase may be induced through parthenogenetic activation. If this happens within the ovary, it often results in the development of ovarian teratomas. Here, we show that the induction of first meiotic anaphase in LT/Sv oocytes results in incorrect chromosome segregation. In search of the molecular basis of this complex phenotype, we analyzed the localization/destruction of cohesins, as well as the function of the components of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). Both localization and removal of meiotic cohesin REC8 from chromosomes are unperturbed. In contrast, there is prolonged localization of SAC proteins BUB1 and MAD2L1 (MAD2) at the metaphase I kinetochores in mutant oocytes compared with the wild-type. Interfering with BUB1 function through expression of a dominant-negative mutant protein resulted in the increase of the number of LT/Sv oocytes completing the first meiosis, which indicates SAC involvement in metaphase I arrest. These data show for the first time that there is a direct link between the SAC function and the heritable meiotic incompetence of a mammalian oocyte.

On the transition from the meiotic to mitotic cell cycle during early mouse development

Here, we outline the mechanisms involved in the regulation of cell divisions during oocyte maturation and early cleavages of the mouse embryo. Our interest is focused on the regulation of meiotic M-phases and the first embryonic mitoses that are differently tuned and are characterized by specifically modified mechanisms, some of which have been recently identified. The transitions between the M-phases during this period of development, as well as associated changes in their regulation, are of key importance for both the meiotic maturation of oocytes and the further development of the mammalian embryo. The mouse is an excellent model for studies of the cell cycle during oogenesis and early development. Nevertheless, a number of molecular mechanisms described here were discovered or confirmed during the study of other species and apply also to other mammals including humans.

Hypomethylation of paternal DNA in the late mouse zygote is not essential for development

Global demethylation of DNA which marks the onset of development occurs asynchronously in the mouse; paternal DNA is demethylated at the the zygote stage, whereas maternal DNA is demethylated later in development. The biological function of such asymmetry and its underlying mechanisms are currently unknown. To test the hypothesis that the early demethylation of male DNA may be associated with protamine-histone exchange, we ,used round spermatids, whose DNA is still associated with histones, for artificial fertilization (round spermatid injection or ROSI), and compared the level of methylation of metaphase chromosomes in the resulting zygotes with the level of methylation in zygotes obtained after fertilization using mature sperm heads (intracytoplasmic sperm injection or ICSI). In contrast to ICSI-derived zygotes, ROSI-derived zygotes possessed only slightly demethylated paternal DNA. Both types of zygotes developed to term with similar rates which shows that hypomethylation of paternal DNA at the zygotic metaphase is not essential for full development in mice. Incorporation of exogenously expressed histone H2BYFP into paternal pronuclei was significantly higher in ICSI-derived zygotes than in ROSI-derived zygotes. Surprisingly, in the latter the incorporation of histone H2BYFP into the paternal pronucleus was still significantly higher than into the maternal pronucleus, suggesting that some exchange of chromatin-associated proteins occurs not only after ICSI but also after ROSI. This may explain why after ROSI, some transient demethylation of paternal DNA occurs early after fertilization, thus providing support for the hypothesis regarding the link between paternal DNA demethylation and protamine/histone exchange.

Temporal regulation of the first mitosis in Xenopus and mouse embryos

Cell cycle regulation in Eukaryotes is based on common molecular actors and mechanisms. However, the canonical cell cycle is modified in certain cells. Such modifications play a key role in oocyte maturation and embryonic development. They can be achieved either by introduction of new components, pathways, substrates, changed interactions between them, or by elimination of some factors inherited by the cells from previous developmental stages. Here we discuss a particular temporal regulation of the first embryonic M-phase of Xenopus and mouse embryos. These two examples help to understand better the general regulation of M-phase of the cell cycle.

Oocyte nucleus controls progression through meiotic maturation

We analyzed progression through the meiotic maturation in oocytes manipulated to replace the prophase oocyte nucleus with the nucleus from a cumulus cell, a pachytene spermatocyte or the pronucleus from a fertilized egg. Removal of the oocyte nucleus led to a significant reduction in histone H1 kinase activity. Replacement of the oocyte nucleus by a pronucleus followed by culture resulted in premature pseudomeiotic division and occasional abnormal cytokinesis; however, histone H1 kinase activity was rescued, microtubules formed a bipolar spindle, and chromosomes were condensed. In addition to the anomalies observed after pronuclear transfer, those after transfer of the nucleus from a cumulus cell or spermatocyte included a dramatically impaired ability to form the bipolar spindle or to condense chromosomes, and histone H1 kinase activity was not rescued. Expression of a cyclin B-YFP in enucleated oocytes receiving the cumulus cell nucleus rescued histone H1 kinase activity, but spindle formation and chromosome condensation remained impaired, indicating a pleiotropic effect of oocyte nucleus removal. However, when the cumulus cell nucleus was first transformed into pronuclei (transfer into a metaphase II oocyte followed by activation), such pronuclei supported maturation after transfer into the oocyte in a manner similar to that of normal pronuclei. These results show that the oocyte nucleus contains specific components required for the control of progression through the meiotic maturation and that some of these components are also present in pronuclei.

Space asymmetry directs preferential sperm entry in the absence of polarity in the mouse oocyte

Knowledge about the mechanism that establishes embryonic polarity is fundamental in understanding mammalian development. In re-addressing several controversial claims, we recently proposed a model in which mouse embryonic polarity is not specified until the blastocyst stage. Before fertilization, the fully differentiated oocyte has been characterized as “polarized,” and we indeed observed that the sperm preferentially enters the polar body half. Here we show that preferential sperm entry is not due to an intrinsic polarity of the oocyte, since fertilization takes place uniformly when the zona pellucida is removed. We suggest that the term “asymmetry” denotes morphological differences, whereas “polarity” in addition implies developmental consequences. Thus, the mouse oocyte can be considered “asymmetric” but “non-polarized.” The penetration through the zona pellucida is also random, and a significant proportion of sperm binds to the oocyte membrane at a point distant from the zona penetration site. Time-lapse recordings confirmed that sperm swim around the perivitelline space before fertilization. Experimental enlargement of the perivitelline space in the non-polar body half increased the regional probability of fertilization. Based on these experiments, we propose a model in which the space asymmetry exerted by the first polar body and the zona pellucida directs sperm entry preferentially to the polar body half, with no need for oocyte polarity.

The point of sperm fertilization on the mouse oocyte's surface is dictated by space constraints imposed by the encapsulating zona pellucida and first polar body; the oocyte itself is described as "asymmetrical" but "non-polarized."

Germinal vesicle material drives meiotic cell cycle of mouse oocyte through the 3′UTR-dependent control of cyclin B1 synthesis

We compared the profile of histone H1 kinase activity, reflecting Maturation Promoting Factor (MPF) activity in oocytes bisected at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage and allowed to mature as separate oocyte halves in vitro. Whereas the oocyte halves containing the nucleus exhibited the same profile of increased kinase activity as that typical for intact oocytes, the anuclear halves revealed strong inhibition of the increase in this activity soon after germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). In contrast, the profile of MAP kinase activity did not differ significantly between anuclear and nucleus-containing oocyte halves throughout maturation. Of the two MPF components, CDK1 and cyclin B1, the amount of the latter was significantly reduced in anuclear halves, a reduction due to low-level synthesis and not to enhanced degradation. Expression of three reporter luciferase RNAs constructed, respectively, to contain cyclin B1-specific 3'UTR, the globin-specific 3'UTR, or no 3'UTR sequence was enhanced in nuclear halves, with significantly greater enhancement for the construct containing cyclin B1-specific 3'UTR as compared to the two other RNAs. We conclude that the profile of activity of MPF during mouse oocyte maturation is controlled by an unknown GV-associated factor(s) acting via 3'UTR-dependent control of cyclin B1 synthesis. These results require the revision of the hitherto prevailing view that the control of MPF activity during mouse oocyte maturation is independent of GV-derived material.

The First Mitosis of the Mouse Embryo Is Prolonged by Transitional Metaphase Arrest1

The first mitosis of the mouse embryo is almost twice as long as the second. The mechanism of the prolongation of the first mitosis remains unknown, and it is not clear whether prometaphase or metaphase or both are prolonged. Prometaphase is characterized by dynamic chromosome movements and spindle assembly checkpoint activity, which prevents anaphase until establishment of stable kinetochore-microtubule connections. The end of prometaphase is correlated with checkpoint inactivation and disappearance of MAD2L1 (MAD2) and RSN (CLIP-170) proteins from kinetochores. Spindle assembly checkpoint operates during the early mouse mitoses, but it is not clear whether it influences their duration. Here, we determine the length of prometaphases and metaphases during the first two embryonic mitoses by time-lapse video recording of chromosomes and by immunolocalization of MAD2L1 and RSN proteins. We show that the duration of the two prometaphases does not differ and that MAD2L1 and RSN disappear from kinetochores very early during each mitosis. The first metaphase is significantly longer than the second one. Therefore, the prolongation of the first embryonic mitosis is due to a prolonged metaphase, and the spindle assembly checkpoint cannot be involved in this process. We show also that MAD2L1 staining disappears gradually from kinetochores of oocytes arrested at metaphase of the second meiotic division. This shows a striking similarity between the first embryonic mitosis and metaphase arrest in oocytes. We postulate that the first embryonic mitosis is prolonged by a transient metaphase arrest that is independent of the spindle assembly checkpoint and is similar to metaphase II arrest. The molecular mechanism of this transient arrest remains to be elucidated.

Polarity of the mouse embryo is established at blastocyst and is not prepatterned

Polarity formation in mammalian preimplantation embryos has long been a subject of controversy. Mammalian embryos are highly regulative, which has led to the conclusion that polarity specification does not exist until the blastocyst stage; however, some recent reports have now suggested polarity predetermination in the egg. Our recent time-lapse recordings have demonstrated that the first cleavage plane is not predetermined in the mouse egg. Here we show that, in contrast to previous claims, two-cell blastomeres do not differ and their precise future contribution to the inner cell mass and/or the trophectoderm cannot be anticipated. Thus, all evidence so far strongly suggests the absence of predetermined axes in the mouse egg. We observe that the ellipsoidal zona pellucida exerts mechanical pressure and space constraints as the coalescing multiple cavities are restricted to one end of the long axis of the blastocyst. We propose that these mechanical cues, in conjunction with the epithelial seal in the outer cell layer, lead to specification of the embryonic-abembryonic axis, thus establishing first polarity in the mouse embryo.

The spindle assembly checkpoint is not essential for CSF arrest of mouse oocytes

In Xenopus oocytes, the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) kinase Bub1 is required for cytostatic factor (CSF)-induced metaphase arrest in meiosis II. To investigate whether matured mouse oocytes are kept in metaphase by a SAC-mediated inhibition of the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) complex, we injected a dominant-negative Bub1 mutant (Bub1dn) into mouse oocytes undergoing meiosis in vitro. Passage through meiosis I was accelerated, but even though the SAC was disrupted, injected oocytes still arrested at metaphase II. Bub1dn-injected oocytes released from CSF and treated with nocodazole to disrupt the second meiotic spindle proceeded into interphase, whereas noninjected control oocytes remained arrested at metaphase. Similar results were obtained using dominant-negative forms of Mad2 and BubR1, as well as checkpoint resistant dominant APC/C activating forms of Cdc20. Thus, SAC proteins are required for checkpoint functions in meiosis I and II, but, in contrast to frog eggs, the SAC is not required for establishing or maintaining the CSF arrest in mouse oocytes.

Meiotic maturation of the mouse oocyte requires an equilibrium between cyclin B synthesis and degradation

Among the proteins whose synthesis and/or degradation is necessary for a proper progression through meiotic maturation, cyclin B appears to be one of the most important. Here, we attempted to modulate the level of cyclin B1 and B2 synthesis during meiotic maturation of the mouse oocyte. We used cyclin B1 or B2 mRNAs with poly(A) tails of different sizes and cyclin B1 or B2 antisense RNAs. Oocytes microinjected with cyclin B1 mRNA showed two phenotypes: most were blocked in MI, while the others extruded the first polar body in advance when compared to controls. Moreover, these effects were correlated with the length of the poly(A) tail. Thus it seems that the rate of cyclin B1 translation controls the timing of the first meiotic M phase and the transition to anaphase I. Moreover, overexpression of cyclin B1 or B2 was able to bypass the dbcAMP-induced germinal vesicle block, but only the cyclin B1 mRNA-microinjected oocytes did not extrude their first polar body. Oocytes injected with the cyclin B1 antisense progressed through the first meiotic M phase but extruded the first polar body in advance and were unable to enter metaphase II. This suggested that inhibition of cyclin B1 synthesis only took place at the end of the first meiotic M phase, most likely because the cyclin B1 mRNA was protected. The injection of cyclin B2 antisense RNA had no effect. The life observation of the synthesis and degradation of a cyclin B1-GFP chimera during meiotic maturation of the mouse oocyte demonstrated that degradation can only occur during a given period of time once it has started. Taken together, our data demonstrate that the rates of cyclin B synthesis and degradation determine the timing of the major events taking place during meiotic maturation of the mouse oocyte.

Sex-dependent frequency and type of autosomal univalency at the first meiotic metaphase in mouse germ cells

Univalents at the first meiotic metaphase in mouse spermatocytes occur mainly in the XY pair, making it difficult to compare the amounts of univalency in males and females. In this study, the amounts of autosomal univalency in male and female meiosis were compared using the model strain CBA-T6, in which univalency of the small marker autosome pair T6 has been shown to occur very frequently in spermatocytes. Mice from inbred CBA and DBA strains were also analysed. The total frequencies of univalency (sex chromosomes plus autosomes) in metaphase I spermatocytes were 45.6% in CBA, 36.9% in CBA-T6, and 37.3% in DBA males. The aneuploidy in metaphase II spermatocytes ranged from 1.4 to 3% in these strains, which was in agreement with previous findings that most primary spermatocytes with abnormal chromosome configurations are arrested in their development before metaphase II. In the CBA-T6 strain, autosomal univalency at metaphase I mostly involved chromosome pair T6; however, its frequency differed significantly between the sexes, amounting to 18.9% in spermatocytes and 4.3% in oocytes. In the CBA strain, autosomal univalents at metaphase I were seen in 7.7% of the spermatocytes and 1.4% of the oocytes and, in DBA mice, in 4.9% of the spermatocytes and 3.8% of the oocytes. However, in DBA oocytes, when univalency occurred it usually concerned a greater number of bivalents in one cell (range: 2-19 disjoined bivalents), a phenomenon very rare in males of this strain. This study shows that univalent formation differs between the male and female types of meiosis.

Sex-dependent frequency and type of autosomal univalency at the first meiotic metaphase in mouse germ cells

Univalents at the first meiotic metaphase in mouse spermatocytes occur mainly in the XY pair, making it difficult to compare the amounts of univalency in males and females. In this study, the amounts of autosomal univalency in male and female meiosis were compared using the model strain CBA-T6, in which univalency of the small marker autosome pair T6 has been shown to occur very frequently in spermatocytes. Mice from inbred CBA and DBA strains were also analysed. The total frequencies of univalency (sex chromosomes plus autosomes) in metaphase I spermatocytes were 45.6% in CBA, 36.9% in CBA-T6, and 37.3% in DBA males. The aneuploidy in metaphase II spermatocytes ranged from 1.4 to 3% in these strains, which was in agreement with previous findings that most primary spermatocytes with abnormal chromosome configurations are arrested in their development before metaphase II. In the CBA-T6 strain, autosomal univalency at metaphase I mostly involved chromosome pair T6; however, its frequency differed significantly between the sexes, amounting to 18.9% in spermatocytes and 4.3% in oocytes. In the CBA strain, autosomal univalents at metaphase I were seen in 7.7% of the spermatocytes and 1.4% of the oocytes and, in DBA mice, in 4.9% of the spermatocytes and 3.8% of the oocytes. However, in DBA oocytes, when univalency occurred it usually concerned a greater number of bivalents in one cell (range: 2-19 disjoined bivalents), a phenomenon very rare in males of this strain. This study shows that univalent formation differs between the male and female types of meiosis.

Characterization of polo-like kinase 1 during meiotic maturation of the mouse oocyte

We have characterized plk1 in mouse oocytes during meiotic maturation and after parthenogenetic activation until entry into the first mitotic division. Plk1 protein expression remains unchanged during maturation. However, two different isoforms can be identified by SDS-PAGE. A fast migrating form, present in the germinal vesicle, seems characteristic of interphase. A slower form appears as early as 30 min before germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), is maximal at GVBD, and is maintained throughout meiotic maturation. This form gradually disappears after exit from meiosis. The slow form corresponds to a phosphorylation since it disappears after alkaline phosphatase treatment. Plk1 activation, therefore, takes place before GVBD and MAPK activation since plk1 kinase activity correlates with its slow migrating phosphorylated form. However, plk1 phosphorylation is inhibited after treatment with two specific p34(cdc2) inhibitors, roscovitine and butyrolactone, suggesting plk1 involvement in the MPF autoamplification loop. During meiosis plk1 undergoes a cellular redistribution consistent with its putative targets. At the germinal vesicle stage, plk1 is found diffusely distributed in the cytoplasm and enriched in the nucleus and during prometaphase is localized to the spindle poles. At anaphase it relocates to the equatorial plate and is restricted to the postmitotic bridge at telophase. After parthenogenetic activation, plk1 becomes dephosphorylated and its activity drops progressively. Upon entry into the first mitotic M-phase at nuclear envelope breakdown plk1 is phosphorylated and there is an increase in its kinase activity. At the two-cell stage, the fast migrating form with weak kinase activity is present. In this work we show that plk1 is present in mouse oocytes during meiotic maturation and the first mitotic division. The variation of plk1 activity and subcellular localization during this period suggest its implication in the organization and progression of M-phase.

Cyclin synthesis controls the progression of meiotic maturation in mouse oocytes

To study the mechanisms involved in the progression of meiotic maturation in the mouse, we used oocytes from two strains of mice, CBA/Kw and KE, which differ greatly in the rate at which they undergo meiotic maturation. CBA/Kw oocytes extrude the first polar body about 7 hours after breakdown of the germinal vesicle (GVBD), whilst the oocytes from KE mice take approximately 3–4 hours longer. In both strains, the kinetics of spindle formation are comparable. While the kinetics of MAP kinase activity are very similar in both strains (although slightly faster in CBA/Kw), the rise of cdc2 kinase activity is very rapid in CBA/Kw oocytes and slow and diphasic in KE oocytes. When protein synthesis is inhibited, the activity of the cdc2 kinase starts to rise but arrests shortly after GVBD with a slightly higher level in CBA/Kw oocytes, which may correspond to the presence of a larger pool of cyclin B1 in prophase CBA/Kw oocytes. After GVBD, the rate of cyclin B1 synthesis is higher in CBA/Kw than in KE oocytes, whilst the overall level of protein synthesis and the amount of messenger RNA coding for cyclin B1 are identical in oocytes from both strains. The injection of cyclin B1 messenger RNA in KE oocytes increased the H1 kinase activity and sped up first polar body extrusion. Finally, analysis of the rate of maturation in hybrids obtained after fusion of nuclear and cytoplasmic fragments of oocytes from both strains suggests that both the germinal vesicle and the cytoplasm contain factor(s) influencing the length of the first meiotic M phase. These results demonstrate that the rate of cyclin B1 synthesis controls the length of the first meiotic M phase and that a nuclear factor able to speed up cyclin B synthesis is present in CBA/Kw oocytes.

Bipolar meiotic spindle formation without chromatin

Establishing a bipolar spindle is an early event of mitosis or meiosis. In somatic cells, the bipolarity of the spindle is predetermined by the presence of two centrosomes in prophase. Interactions between the microtubules nucleated by centrosomes and the chromosomal kinetochores enable the formation of the spindle. Non-specific chromatin is sufficient, however, to promote spindle assembly in Xenopus cell-free extracts that contain centrosomes [1,2]. The mouse oocyte represents an excellent model system in which to study the mechanism of meiotic spindle formation because of its size, transparency and slow development. These cells have no centrioles, and their multiple microtubule-organizing centers (MTOCs) are composed of foci of pericentriolar material [3,4]. The bipolarity of the meiotic spindle emerges from the reorganization of these randomly distributed MTOCs [4]. Regardless of the mechanisms involved in this reorganization, the chromosomes seem to have a major role during spindle formation in promoting microtubule polymerization and directing the appropriate rearrangement of MTOCs to form the two poles [5]. Here, we examined spindle formation in chromosome-free mouse oocyte fragments. We found that a bipolar spindle can form in vivo in the absence of any chromatin due to the establishment of interactions between microtubule asters that are progressively stabilized by an increase in the number of microtubules involved, demonstrating that spindle formation is an intrinsic property of the microtubule network.

Activation of in vitro matured mouse oocytes arrested at first or second meiotic metaphase

Some mammalian oocytes fail to complete maturation in vitro and arrest development at the first metaphase stage. The response of such blocked oocytes to sperm penetration was investigated. Ovarian mouse oocytes from two inbred strains, CBA/Kw and KE, were cultured in vitro for 20 h. Both oocytes arrested at the first metaphase (MI oocytes) and second metaphase (MII oocytes) were then inseminated. The majority of MII and MI oocytes reinitiated meiosis in response to sperm penetration, although those from the CBA strain did with higher frequency. Moreover, a high proportion of unpenetrated oocytes from CBA, but not the KE strain, resumed meiosis (33% for MII and 48% for MI oocytes, respectively). Parthenogenetic activation of MI-arrested oocytes was demonstrated in (CBAxKE)F1 mice; ovarian oocytes matured in vitro and then treated by electric shock were activated with a similar total frequency of 52.4% for MI and 47.8% for MII oocytes. The rate of activation increased equivalently for both MI and MII oocytes as the length of maturation prolonged. This demonstrates that mouse oocytes arrested at MI during their maturation in vitro continue cytoplasmic maturation and become capable of undergoing activation in a way similar to those maturing to MII. Additionally, in MII oocytes cultured for an equal time in vitro the rate of activation increased with the time lapse after first polar body (PB1) extrusion. This indicates that after PB1 extrusion, the oocyte requires some resting time before it may be activated, perhaps to restore the proper balance between elements of the cell cycle controlling the mechanism involved in first meiotic division.