G蛋白偶联受体50在牦牛卵母细胞体外成熟过程中的表达与亚细胞定位研究

试验旨在研究G蛋白偶联受体50（G protein-coupled receptor 50,GPR50）在牦牛卵母细胞体外成熟过程中的表达与定位规律,为进一步解析卵母细胞成熟的分子机制及理解牦牛繁殖的特异性提供依据。通过牦牛卵母细胞体外成熟培养,利用免疫荧光染色监测不同时间点（0~24 h）纺锤丝形态和核相的变化,确定牦牛卵母细胞减数分裂4个时期,包括生发泡期（germinal vesicle,GV）、生发泡破裂期（germinal vesicle break down,GVBD）、第一次减数分裂中期（metaphase Ⅰ,MⅠ）与第二次减数分裂中期（metaphase Ⅱ,MⅡ）的时间点。在此基础上,通过实时荧光定量PCR检测GPR50基因在牦牛卵母细胞成熟过程中的动态表达量,免疫荧光染色检测GPR50蛋白在卵母细胞成熟过程中的的亚细胞动态定位情况。结果表明,牦牛卵母细胞体外成熟0 h时90%处于GV期,6 h时94%处于GVBD期,16 h时92%细胞处于MⅠ期,24 h时94%处于MⅡ期。实时荧光定量PCR结果表明,GPR50基因在牦牛卵母细胞GV期即有表达,并在GVBD、MⅠ、MⅡ期成熟过程中逐渐升高,在MⅡ期达到顶峰,且极显著高于GV与GVBD期（P<0.01）。GPR50蛋白在牦牛卵母细胞GV期时集中在膜上表达,并随着成熟进程的发展在细胞质和细胞膜均大量表达,在MⅡ期高亮度弥散表达。以上结果表明,GPR50基因参与牦牛卵母细胞减数分裂过程并发挥重要作用,为研究GPR50在牦牛卵母细胞成熟过程中的作用及机制提供了依据。     

Maternal gene transcription in mouse oocytes: genes implicated in oocyte maturation and fertilization

Maternal gene expression is an important biological process in oocyte maturation and early cleavage. To gain insights into oocyte maturation and early embryo development, we used microarray analysis to compare the gene expression profiles of germinal vesicle (GV)- and metaphase II (MII)-stage oocytes. The differences in spot intensities were normalized and grouped using the Avadis Prophetic software platform. Of the 12164 genes examined, we found 1682 genes with more highly expression in GV-stage oocytes than in MII-stage oocytes, while 1936 genes were more highly expressed in MII-stage oocytes (P<0.05). The genes were grouped on the basis of the Panther classification system according to their involvement in particular biological processes. The genes that were up-regulated in GV oocytes were more likely to be involved in protein metabolism and modification, the mitotic cell cycle, electron transport, or fertilization or belong to the microtubule/cytoskeletal protein family. The genes specifically upregulated in the MII oocytes were more likely to be involved in DNA replication, amino acid metabolism, or expression of G protein-coupled receptors and signaling molecules. Identification of genes that are preferentially expressed at particular oocyte maturation stages provides insights into the complex gene regulatory networks that drive oocyte maturation and fertilization.     

猪GV/MⅡ期卵母细胞miRNAs表达谱及Npm2基因相关miRNAs筛选

旨在探索体外成熟前后猪卵母细胞miRNAs表达谱，并筛选参与调控Npm2基因表达的miRNAs。本试验回收屠宰场猪卵巢，收集GV期卵母细胞，经体外成熟培养后获得MⅡ期卵母细胞，分别提取约130个GV期和MⅡ期卵母细胞总RNA进行Illumina HiSeqTM 2500测序，获取miRNA测序数据，每个处理重复3次，筛选差异表达microRNAs并进行靶基因GO和KEGG聚类分析。结果表明，本研究成功构建了GV期和MⅡ期猪卵母细胞miRNAs表达谱，GV期和MⅡ期卵母细胞差异表达miRNAs有95个，具有相似表达模式的miRNA聚为一类，对95个差异表达miRNAs进行靶基因预测，共得到3 967个靶基因，经GO和KEGG富集分析表明，这些靶基因被富集于5 194个GO条目和212个信号通路，其中参与卵母细胞减数分裂成熟的信号通路有2个。在差异表达miRNAs中筛选到5个与Npm2基因相关的miRNAs。采用qRT-PCR对其中2个miRNAs进行验证，证实其表达趋势与测序结果一致。本研究筛选了GV期和MⅡ期卵母细胞差异表达miRNAs，推测差异表达的miRNAs可能通过代谢、卵母细胞减数分裂相关通路、孕激素介导的卵母细胞成熟通路等途径在卵母细胞体外成熟过程中发挥作用，并筛选出调控Npm2基因表达的miRNAs，研究结果可为进一步阐明miRNA对Npm2基因的调控及其在卵母细胞成熟过程中的作用提供依据。     

维生素A对牦牛卵母细胞体外成熟及后续胚胎发育能力的影响

【目的】探究维生素A对牦牛卵母细胞体外成熟及后续胚胎发育能力的影响。【方法】以牦牛卵母细胞为研究对象，在其体外成熟培养液中分别添加0（对照组）、2、5、10和20 μmol/L维生素A，体外培养24 h统计第一极体排出率；对成熟后各组卵母细胞进行孤雌激活，在孤雌激活胚胎培养的第2和8天分别统计卵裂率和囊胚率；用实时荧光定量PCR检测各组MⅡ期卵母细胞中维生素A调控卵母细胞成熟典型信号通路中的节点基因RARα、RARβ、RARγ、RXRα、RXRβ、RXRγ、STRA8及非典型信号通路中的节点基因MEK和ERK1的相对表达量，筛选最佳维生素A处理浓度。在体外成熟培养液中添加最佳浓度维生素A，成熟6和24 h分别收集MⅠ和MⅡ期卵母细胞，将部分MⅡ期卵母细胞进行孤雌激活，收集激活8 d的囊胚，用实时荧光定量PCR检测GV、MⅠ和MⅡ期卵母细胞及孤雌激活囊胚中RARα、RXRα、STRA8基因的相对表达量。【结果】与对照组相比，2、5和10 μmol/L维生素A组第一极体排出率和卵裂率均显著提高（P<0.05），且2 μmol/L维生素A组均达到最高；2 μmol/L维生素A组囊胚率显著提高（P<0.05），20 μmol/L维生素A组第一极体排出率、卵裂率和囊胚率均显著降低（P<0.05）。实时荧光定量PCR结果表明，与对照组相比，2、5、10和20 μmol/L维生素A组RARα、RXRα和STRA8基因的相对表达量均显著增加（P<0.05），其中2 μmol/L维生素A组均达到最高，因此2 μmol/L维生素A对牦牛卵母细胞体外成熟的效果最好。与GV期卵母细胞相比，STRA8、RXRα、RARα基因的相对表达量在MⅡ期卵母细胞均极显著增加（P<0.01），在MⅠ及囊胚期差异均不显著（P>0.05）。【结论】在体外成熟过程中，添加2 μmol/L维生素A可以促进牦牛卵母细胞的成熟，能够显著提高孤雌激活胚胎的卵裂率，且维生素A主要通过典型信号通路调控牦牛卵母细胞的成熟。     

猪卵母细胞在GV期与MⅡ期的冷冻保存效果比较研究

为比较猪卵母细胞在GV期与MⅡ期的冷冻保存效果,试验在这两个成熟阶段对其进行玻璃化冷冻,GV期卵母细胞解冻后培养至成熟,MⅡ期卵母细胞解冻后恢复2 h,然后采用免疫荧光标记、Western blotting和链霉蛋白酶溶解方法分别检测它们的皮质颗粒分布、CD9蛋白表达水平和透明带消化时间上的差异。结果表明,GV期卵母细胞在解冻后2 h的存活率显著低于MⅡ期卵母细胞（P<0.05）,但极体排出率与对照卵母细胞无明显差异（P>0.05）;在冷冻MⅡ期卵母细胞中,皮质颗粒的皮质区分布比例和CD9的蛋白表达水平显著下降（P<0.05）,但冷冻GV期卵母细胞经体外成熟后则无明显变化（P>0.05）;冷冻GV期与MⅡ期卵母细胞均不会影响透明带的消化时间（P>0.05）。由此可见,猪卵母细胞在GV期的冷冻存活率虽然较MⅡ期低,但其体外成熟后极体排出率、皮质颗粒分布和CD9蛋白表达水平均未受到冷冻的影响。     

Kid depletion in mouse oocytes associated with multinucleated blastomere formation and inferior embryo development

This study investigated the knockdown (KD) of Kid on maturation developmental competence and multinucleation of mouse germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes after parthenogenetic activation. Data revealed that Kid messenger RNA (mRNA) was expressed in GV and MII stage oocyte and 1‐ and 2‐cell embryos. Additionally, Kid mRNA expression in the Kid KD group decreased by nearly 46% compared to the control small interfering RNA (siRNA) groups. The rate of multinucleated embryos in the Kid KD group (52.4%) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the control siRNA group (4.7%). Finally, the developmental rates were significantly lower in the Kid siRNA group at > 4‐cell stage (28.6% vs. 53.5%) and the blastocyst stage (2.4% vs. 23.3%) compared to the control siRNA groups. Suppression of Kid using siRNA caused multinucleation in early embryos with high frequency and it may increase 2‐ to 4‐cell arrested embryos and reduce the developmental competence to blastocyst.     

Meiotic competence of mouse oocytes reconstructed by replacing the germinal vesicle with a male pronucleus and somatic nucleus

The present study examines the contribution of the nucleus to meiotic competence in mouse oocytes that were reconstructed using nuclear transfer. Three types of reconstructed oocytes were produced: MP‐GV, by transplanting the male pronucleus (MP) into germinal vesicle (GV) stage oocytes; 3T3‐GV, by transplanting the nucleus of a National Institute of Health (NIH) 3T3 cell into a GV stage oocyte; and 3T3‐MII, by transplanting the nucleus of an NIH 3T3 cell into a metaphase II (MII) stage oocyte. The fusion rates differed, but not significantly, in the MP‐GV, 3T3‐GV, and 3T3‐MII groups (77, 63, 56%, respectively). Then, meiotic competence was compared in MP‐GV, 3T3‐GV and non‐manipulated GV stage oocytes as a control. Nuclear envelope breakdown occurred in all the reconstructed oocytes, as well as the control ones. The percentage of first polar body extrusion differed between the MP‐GV (100%), 3T3‐GV (72%), and control (67%) groups. DNA staining with Hoechst 33342 revealed that in the MP‐GV‐group oocytes that had reached MII stage, the chromosomes were condensed and aligned in a regular array similar to the normal metaphase plate. By contrast, in 3T3‐GV group oocytes, the condensed chromosomes were irregularly scattered in the cytoplasm. These results suggest that the donor nucleus affects meiotic competence in reconstructed oocytes.     

Cyclopamine did not affect mouse oocyte maturation in vitro but decreased early embryonic development

Hedgehog (Hh) pathway has been studied in various animal body life procedures and is suggested to be important for the development of multiple organs. The genes involved in the Hh signaling pathway were expressed in the ovary of mice, pigs and cattle. However, the function of Hh signaling pathway on oocyte maturation and early embryonic development is still controversial. We detected the effect of sonic hedgehog (Shh) and cyclopamine on the in vitro maturation of mouse oocytes and embryo development. The results showed that the presence of Shh or cyclopamine resulted in similar oocyte maturation to control groups. Shh did not improve early embryonic development. However, the supplement of cyclopamine depressed early embryo development. The mRNA of shh, ptch1, smo and gli1 were less detected in the denuded oocytes. The expression levels of ptch1 ascended from the uncleaved zygote to blastocyst stage. Smo or gli1 were expressed on a higher level at the two‐cell or four‐cell stage in early embryonic development separately. Therefore, Shh did not affect mouse oocyte maturation and early embryo development, but cyclopamine led to inhibited development of mouse early embryo. The effects of Hh signaling on the oocyte maturation and early embryo development might be species‐specific.     

云岭山羊卵母细胞玻璃化冷冻的研究

试验以屠宰场云岭黑山羊卵巢卵母细胞为材料,研究其玻璃化冷冻的效果。试验中选用20% EG+20% DMSO为冷冻液、冷冻环为载体,以20 s、40 s玻璃化时间冷冻GV和MⅡ期的卵母细胞。结果表明,GV期卵母细胞的形态正常率、成熟率和卵裂率都很低,且解冻成熟培养后冷冻组的成熟率和卵裂率极显著低于对照组(P<0.01)。而MⅡ期卵母细胞冷冻效果较好,毒性试验组和冷冻组形态正常率分别为91.1%和83.3%,明显高于GV期;孤雌激活后毒性组卵裂率与对照组无显著性差异(P>0.05),冷冻组的卵裂率显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。用20 s、40 s玻璃化时间冷冻的卵母细胞解冻后GV和MⅡ期各组均无显著差异。根据试验结果得出在冷冻保存中最好冷冻MⅡ期的卵母细胞,以便提高后期的卵裂率和囊胚率;卵母细胞玻璃化时间在40 s内均不影响卵母细胞的活力和发育潜力。     

NLRP9B protein is dispensable for oocyte maturation and early embryonic development in the mouse

Nlrp9a, Nlrp9b and Nlrp9c are preferentially expressed in oocytes and early embryos in the mouse. Simultaneous genetic ablation of Nlrp9a and Nlrp9c does not affect early embryonic development, but the function of Nlrp9b in the process of oocyte maturation and embryonic development has not been elucidated. Here we show that both Nlrp9b mRNA and its protein are expressed in ovaries and the small intestine. Moreover, the NLRP9B protein was restricted to oocytes in the ovary and declined with oocyte aging. After ovulation and fertilization, NLRP9B protein was found in preimplantation embryos. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that it was mainly localized in the cytoplasm in the oocytes and blastomeres. Thus, this protein might play a role in oocyte maturation and early embryonic development. However, knockdown of Nlrp9b expression in GV-stage oocytes using RNA interference did not affect oocyte maturation or subsequent parthenogenetic development after Nlrp9b-deficient oocytes were activated. Furthermore, Nlrp9b knockdown zygotes could reach the blastocyst stage after being cultured for 3.5 days in vitro. These results provide the first evidence that the NLRP9B protein is dispensable for oocyte maturation and early embryonic development in the mouse.     

玻璃化冻存对驴卵母细胞超微结构的影响

试验旨在探究玻璃化冷冻对驴卵母细胞发育的影响，寻求驴卵母细胞冷冻的最佳条件。通过对不同发育时期的驴卵母细胞进行玻璃化冷冻，冷冻复苏后分别进行成熟培养和孤雌激活，并对GV期未冷冻组（对照组）、GV期冷冻组、IVM-M Ⅱ冷冻组卵母细胞微丝和线粒体超微结构进行免疫荧光标记，统计冷冻复苏后卵母细胞形态正常率、成熟率、孤雌激活卵裂率、超微结构正常率。结果表明，GV期冷冻组卵母细胞的形态正常率与GV期未冷冻组（对照组）间无显著差异（P>0.05），成熟率和卵裂率均显著低于对照组（P<0.05）；IVM-M Ⅱ冷冻组的卵裂率显著低于对照组（P<0.05），且卵裂后细胞发育受到阻滞。冷冻组微丝在皮质区分布明显减少的卵母细胞数目增多，冷冻组卵母细胞的线粒体数量明显低于对照组，由此可以说明冷冻对卵母细胞超微结构有损伤，从而导致复苏后成熟率下降，影响卵母细胞的受精和体外发育，且GV期冷冻组较IVM-M Ⅱ冷冻组在微丝与线粒体结构上有较小损伤，发育状态较好。     

Distribution of protein disulfide isomerase during maturation of pig oocytes

Oocyte maturation in mammals is characterized by a dramatic reorganization of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In mice, the ER forms accumulations in the germinal vesicle (GV) stage and distinctive cortical clusters in metaphase II (MII) of the oocyte. Multiple evidence suggests that this ER distribution is important in preparing the oocyte for Ca²⁺ oscillations, which trigger oocyte activation at fertilization. In this study, we investigated the time course and illustrated the possible functional role of ER distribution during maturation of porcine oocytes by immunostaining with protein disulfide isomerase (PDI). PDI forms clusters in the cytoplasm of oocytes. After immunostaining, PDI clusters were identified throughout the cytoplasm from the GV to metaphase I (MI) stage; however, at the MII stage, the PDI formed large clusters (1–2 µm) in the animal pole around the first polar body. PDI distribution was prevented by bacitracin, a PDI inhibitor. Our experiments indicated that, during porcine oocyte maturation, PDI undergoes a dramatic reorganization. This characteristic distribution is different from that in the mouse oocyte. Moreover, our study suggested that formation of PDI clusters in the animal pole is a specific characteristic of matured porcine oocytes.     

Intermediate Filament Keratin Dynamics During Oocyte Maturation Requires Maturation/M‐Phase Promoting Factor and Mitogen‐Activated Protein Kinase Kinase Activities in the Hamster

Research related to intermediate filaments in mammalian oocytes remains poorly advanced. We investigated keratin reorganization in oocytes during meiotic maturation using immunofluorescence, and examined effects of inhibitors for cdc2 and mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK) on keratin assembly. In germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes (n = 26), large and oval‐shaped aggregates of non‐fibrillar keratin were found in the cortical ooplasm (designated as a ‘cortical’ pattern). The delicate network of keratin filaments was concentrated in the GV periphery. The large keratin aggregates began to divide into small fragments at the pro‐MI/MI stage (n = 22, designated as a ‘fragmented’ pattern). Some keratin fragments were occasionally broken down into several granules at the peripheral region. In the MII oocytes (n = 24), the filament network was extended over the ooplasm and numerous keratin granules were scattered across the oocyte (designated as a ‘granular’ pattern). After 12 h of incubation with roscovitine, 66.7% of the oocytes (20/30) were at the GV stage and showed a cortical pattern of keratin. After incubation with U0126, most oocytes (83.9%, 26/31) were at the MII stage; most of them (76.9%, 20/26) showed a fragmented pattern of keratin. The increasing complexity of keratin filament network from the GV to MII stages suggests a possible role in maintaining cell integrity under physical stress after ovulation. In fact, maturation/M‐phase promoting factor is necessary for such keratin reorganization, as is meiotic nuclear progression. In addition, MAPKK is involved in keratin reorganization from a fragmented pattern to a granular pattern.     

Naloxone increases maturation rate and ratio of inner cell mass to total cells in blastocysts in pigs

The purposes of the present study were to examine the effect of naloxone, a mu‐opioid receptor (MOR) antagonist, on porcine oocyte maturation and embryo development. MOR gene was expressed in germinal vesicle (GV) and metaphase II (M‐II) porcine oocytes, one‐, four‐cell stage embryos and blastocysts. In blastocysts, MOR gene was mainly expressed in inner cell mass (ICM) cells. Supplementation of 10^?8 mol/L naloxone in in vitro maturation (IVM) medium increased the maturation rate (P < 0.05). However, 10^?4 mol/L naloxone reduced the maturation rate (P < 0.05) compared with the control. The presence of naloxone during IVM had no effects on fertilization status and subsequent embryonic development after in vitro culture (IVC). The addition of 10^?3 mol/L dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dbcAMP), and 10^?8 mol/L naloxone together into IVM medium increased nuclear maturation (P < 0.05) compared with the addition of either dbcAMP or naloxone alone. Supplementation with naloxone in IVC medium did not improve embryonic development. However, at the concentrations of 10^?6 mol/L and 10^?8 mol/L, naloxone increased the ratio of ICM to total cells in blastocysts (P < 0.05). In conclusion, at low concentration, naloxone increases maturation rate and the ratio of ICM to total cells in blastocysts. Naloxone and cAMP have a synergistic effect on oocyte maturation.     

Mitochondrial Patterns in Bovine Oocytes with Different Meiotic Competence Related to Their in vitro Maturation

This study was designed to specify chromatin and mitochondrial patterns in bovine oocytes with different meiotic competence in relation to maturation progress, resumption of meiosis, MII onset and completion of maturation. Oocytes with greater or lesser meiotic competence, recovered separately from medium (MF) and small follicles (SF), were categorized according to morphology. Four oocyte categories, healthy and light‐atretic MF and healthy and light‐atretic SF oocytes were matured and collected at 0, 3, 7, 16 and 24 h of maturation. Specific differences in terms of chromatin and mitochondrial patterns were found among the maturing oocyte categories. Resumption of meiosis was accelerated in light‐atretic oocytes, as compared with healthy oocytes, regardless of their meiotic competence. More competent oocytes activated mitochondria twice during maturation, before resumption of meiosis and before completion of maturation, while less competent oocytes did it only once, before completion of maturation. Changes in mitochondrial activity differed in light‐atretic compared with healthy in both more and less competent oocytes. Healthy meiotically more competent oocytes formed clusters and produced ATP for the whole time of maturation until its completion, while light‐atretic more competent oocytes and healthy less competent oocytes reduced these activities earlier, at MII onset. Contrary to these oocyte categories, light‐atretic less competent oocytes increased cluster formation significantly before resumption of meiosis. It can be concluded that bovine oocytes with different meiotic competence and health differed in the kinetics of mitochondrial patterns during maturation.