• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2019

The ability of oocytes to undergo normal fertilization and embryo development is acquired during oocyte maturation which is transition from the germinal vesicle stage (GV), germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) to metaphase of meiosis II (MII). Part of this process includes redistribution of inositol 1, 4, 5-triphosphate receptor (IP3R), a predominant $Ca^{2+}$ channel on the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Type 1 IP3R (IP3R1) is expressed in mouse oocytes dominantly. At GV stage, IP3R1 are arranged as a network throughout the cytoplasm with minute accumulation around the nucleus. At MII stage, IP3R1 diffuses to the entire cytoplasm in a more reticular manner, and obvious clusters of IP3R1 are observed at the cortex of the egg. This structural reorganization provides acquisition of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ oscillatory activity during fertilization. In this review, general properties of IP3R1 in somatic cells and mammalian oocyte are introduced.

• BMB Reports
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.147-157
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• 2011

The meiotic process from the primordial stage to zygote in female germ cells is mainly adjusted by post-transcriptional regulation of pre-existing maternal mRNA and post-translational modification of proteins. Several key proteins such as the cell cycle regulator, Cdk1/cyclin B, are post-translationally modified for precise control of meiotic progression. The second messenger (cAMP), kinases (PKA, Akt, MAPK, Aurora A, CaMK II, etc), phosphatases (Cdc25, Cdc14), and other proteins (G-protein coupled receptor, phosphodiesterase) are directly or indirectly involved in this process. Many proteins, such as CPEB, maskin, eIF4E, eIF4G, 4E-BP, and 4E-T, post-transcriptionally regulate mRNA via binding to the cap structure at the 5' end of mRNA or its 3' untranslated region (UTR) to generate a closed-loop structure. The 3' UTR of the transcript is also implicated in post-transcriptional regulation through an association with proteins such as CPEB, CPSF, GLD-2, PARN, and Dazl to modulate poly(A) tail length. RNA interfering is a new regulatory mechanism of the amount of mRNA in the mouse oocyte. This review summarizes information about post-transcriptional and post-translational regulation during mouse oocyte meiotic maturation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.58-67
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• 2012

Objective: Previously, we identified that transketolase (Tkt), an important enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway, is highly expressed at 2 hours of spontaneous maturation in oocytes. Therefore, this study was performed to determine the function of Tkt in meiotic cell cycle regulation, especially at the point of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). Methods: We evaluated the loss-of-function of Tkt by microinjecting Tkt double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) into germinal vesicle-stage oocytes, and the oocytes were cultured in vitro to evaluate phenotypic changes during oocyte maturation. In addition to maturation rates, meiotic spindle and chromosome rearrangements, and changes in expression of other enzymes in the pentose phosphate pathway were determined after Tkt RNA interference (RNAi). Results: Despite the complete and specific knockdown of Tkt expression, GVBD occurred and meiosis was arrested at the metaphase I (MI) stage. The arrested oocytes exhibited spindle loss, chromosomal aggregation, and declined maturation promoting factor and mitogen-activated protein kinase activities. The modified expression of two enzymes in the pentose phosphate pathway, Prps1 and Rbks, after Tkt RNAi and decreased maturation rates were amended when ribose-5-phosphate was supplemented in the culture medium, suggesting that the Tkt and pentose phosphate pathway are important for the maturation process. Conclusion: We concluded that Tkt and its associated pentose phosphate pathway play an important role in the MI-MII transition of the oocytes' meiotic cell cycle, but not in the process of GVBD.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.319-327
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• 2009

Follicular fluid meiosis-activating sterol (FF-MAS) has been suggested as a positive factor which could improve the oocyte quality and subsequent embryo development after in vitro fertilization. However, FF-MAS is a highly lipophilic substance and is hard to detect in studying the relationship between MAS and quality of oocyte maturation. The present study focused on the expression of lanosterol 14${\alpha}$-demethylase (LDM), a key enzyme that converts lanosterol to FF-MAS, on mouse oocyte maturation and its potency on development. LDM expression was strong in gonadotropin-primed germinal vesicle stage oocytes, weak after germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), and then strong in MII stage oocytes. The LDM-specific inhibitor azalanstat significantly inhibited oocyte fertilization (from 79.4% to 68.3%, p<0.05). Also, azalanstat (5 to 50 ${\mu}M$) decreased the percentage of blastocyst development dosedependently (from 78.7% to 23.4%, p<0.05). The specific inhibition of sterol ${\Delta}14$-reductase and ${\Delta}7$-reductase by AY9944 accumulates FF-MAS and could increase blastocyst development rates. Additionally, in the AY9944 group, the rate of inner cell mass (ICM)/ total cells was similar to that of in vivo development, but the rate was significantly decreased in azalanstat treatment. In conclusion, LDM, the key enzyme of FF-MAS production, may play an important role in fertilization and early development of the mouse embryo, especially in vitro.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.105-116
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• 2003

U. unicinctus 난세포를 인공수정한 결과 수정 시기는 germinal vesicle (2n)기였으며 정자 중앙부에서 돌출한 actomere와 난모세포의 미세융모 끝에서 세포막 융합이 시작되는 것으로 관찰되었다. Germinal vesicle기에 수정이 가능하였으므로 pre-mitotic spindle이 관찰되지 않은 것으로 사료되었다. 수정 후 난모세포는 제1, 2감수분열을 수행하였으며 각각의 감수분열 장치들은 감수분열 말기에 난모세포막과 밀접한 구조를 형성하였고, 이 부위에서 극체가 형성되는 것을 볼 수 있었다. 극체 형성시 난모세포막은 세포분열의 관점에서 형태가 없는 것이 아니라 항-튜블린-FITC에 대한 활성구조를 형성하였으며, 각 감수분열 장치의 한쪽 극 (pole)과 어떤 복합구조를 형성하는 것으로 보인다. 제2극체 형성도 제1극체와 유사한 방법으로 형성되었으나, 제2감수분열 장치는 난모세포막의 접선에 평행하게 생성된 후 세포막을 향해 이동하면서 방추사의 양극성이 회전 (shift-rotation)하였고 접선에 수직으로 정렬하는 것을 볼 수 있었다. 난모세포의 감수분열 장치에서 방추사의 활성은 강하였으나 aster의 활성은 비교적 약한 것으로 보였다. 제2감수분열이 진행되는 동안 난모세포질에 머믈고 있던 정자는 점차 미래의 자성 전핵 형성부인 난모세포막 근접부로 이동하는 것이 관찰되었다. 난모세포막 근접부로 이동하는 동안 정자 aster의 활성은 점차 강해지는 반면 난모세포의 aster에서는 활성이 미약한 것으로 보아서 자웅 전핵융합을 주도하는 것은 정자 유래의 aster인 것으로 사료되었다. 제1난모세포의 감수분열 장치가 활성화되는 시기에 제1극체의 방추사에서도 강한 활성을 관찰할 수 있었다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제25권10호
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• pp.1184-1195
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• 2015

새로운 실험 동물로 대두되고 있는 제브라피쉬는 척추동물 생식생물학 연구에서도 중요한 역할을 한다. 제브라피쉬의 난자 성숙은 maturation inducing hormone (MIH, 17α,20β-Dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one)에 의해 촉발된다. 대부분의 동물의 난자성숙에는 cdc2 kinase와 cyclinB 단백질 복합체인 MPF의 활성화가 필요하다. 발톱개구리와 생쥐에서는 MPF 활성이 두 가지 기작에 의해 조절되는데, 하나는 cyclinB 결합이고 또 다른 하나는 Wee1과 Cdc25에 의한 T14/Y15 잔기의 억제성인산화와 탈인산화이다. 발톱개구리나 생쥐와 달리 제브라피쉬를 포함한 대부분의 진골어류(teleost)는 GV 난자에 pre-MPF complex가 존재하지 않으므로 MPF 활성화는 전적으로 cyclinB 단백질의 de novo synthesis에 의존한다. 다른 종과 마찬가지로 제브라피쉬의 모계유래 mRNA도 CPEB, Dazl, Pum1/Pum2, insulin-like growth factor2 mRNA-binding protein 3 등 다양한 RNA binding protein (RBP)의 결합에 의해 번역이 조절된다. 그러나 제브라피쉬 난자에서 단백질 번역 조절에 관여하는 자세한 작용 기작은 확실하게 규명되지 않았다. 그러므로 제브라피쉬 난자의 성숙과정을 연구하는 것은 척추동물 난자 초기 성숙과정에서 단백질 번역 조절의 역할을 규명할 수 있는 새로운 정보를 제공할 것이다.

• 한국동물학회지
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.265-272
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• 1988

세포융합방법을 사용하여 성장증인 포유동물의 난자에 들어있는 성숙억제요인(maturation inhibiting activity, 1연Al에 대해 조사하였다. 성장중인 생쥐난자와 성장한 미성숙난자를 1:1로 융합하여 배양했을 서 (14-17시간)에는 거의 모두 핵붕괴를 일으키었으나(90oyo), 2:1로 융합했을 때는 대부분(약 64%) 3개의 핵을 모두 간직하고 있었다. 돼지난자의 경우는 성장중인 것깎 성장한 것을 1:1로 융합하여 배양했을 때에도 융합체들은 모두 핵을 간직하고 있었으며 돼지의 성장중인 난자와 생쥐의 성장한 난자를 융합했을 때에도 모두 핵을 보존하고 있었다. 이에 반하여 돼지와 생쥐 모두에서 성장한 난자끼리 융합했을 때에는 예외없이 핵붕괴가 일어났다. 이러한 결과는 성장중인 생쥐나 돼지의 난자에 각IA가 존재한다는 열과 이종간에도 효과가 있다는 것을 보여주고 있다. 또한 이는 MIA와 성숙촉진요인(maturation promoting factor, MPH의 상대적인 양의 변화가 난자의 성숙조절에 증요한 9f할을 한다는 것을 시사해주고 있다.In an attempt to elucidate the nature of maturation inhibiting activity (MIA) in growing mamma-lian oocvtes, growing mouse and pig oocytes incompetent to resume meiosis were fused with fully grown immature oocvtes in various combinations and cultured for 14-17 hours. In slant cells composed of two mouse growing ooh임es and one large immature oocyte (2:기, their GVs remained well conserved (about 64%) after culture, but not in the ceils composed of one by one pairs. In giant cells of pig composed of one growing and onto large immature oocytes, both GVs remained conserved. In the cells composed of one pig growing and one mouse large oocytes, both GVs were also conserved. In contrast to this, pairs of large mouse oocvtes or those of large pig oocvtes had no CVs after culture. Thus, we could acertain the existEnce of MIA and none-pecificty of it in the mouse and pig growing oocvtes. The results also suggest that the relative amount of substances showlns MfA or MPF activity may be important in the regulation of oocyte amount of substances showing MIA or MPF activity may be important in the regulation of oocyte maturation.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.145-153
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• 2009

Previously, we obtained the list of genes differentially expressed between GV and MII oocytes. Out of the list, we focused on functional analysis of Zap70 in the present study, because it has been known to be expressed only in immune cells. This is the first report about the expression and its function of Zap70 in the oocytes. Synthetic 475 bp Zap70 dsRNA was microinjected into the GV oocytes, and the oocytes were cultured in vitro. In addition to maturation rates, meiotic spindle and chromosome rearrangements, and changes in expression levels of transcripts of three kinases, Erk1/2, JNK, and p38, were determined. Zap70 is highly expressed in immature GV oocytes, and gradually decreased as oocyte matured. When dsRNA of Zap70 was injected into the GV oocytes, Zap70 mRNA specifically and completely decreased by 2 hr and its protein expression also decreased significantly. Absence of Zap70 resulted in maturation inhibition at meiosis I (57%) with abnormalities in meiotic spindle formation and chromosome rearrangement. Concurrently, mRNA expression of Erk2, JNK, and p38, were affected by Zap70 RNAi. Therefore, we concluded that Zap70 is involved in MI-MII transition by affecting expression of MAP kinases.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.317-324
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• 2004

The present study was conducted to investigate the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in cumulus expansion, oocyte mortality and meiotic maturation of porcine cumulus enclosed oocytes (CEOs) cultured in two different models when gonadotropins, including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were presented or not. And the interaction between NO and $\beta$-mercaptoethanol ($\beta$-ME), a free radical scavenger was also investigated. Two models refer to spontaneous maturation model and hypoxanthine (HX) medium model. All the 3,433 eligible CEOs were incubated at $39^{\circ}C$ and the cumulus expansion, oocyte morphology and nuclear phase were evaluated 44 h after incubation. (1) In spontaneous maturation model, NO stimulates the cumulus expansion and $\beta$-ME delayed it. NO doesn't affect the oocyte meiotic resumption but inhibits the oocytes to develop to metaphase II. (2) In HX medium model, NO or $\beta$-ME doesn't affect the expansion in the absence of gonadotropins, but in the presence of gonadotropins, NO or $\beta$-ME inhibits the expansion. In the presence of gonadotropins, NO inhibits the oocyte meiotic resumption and it especially inhibits the oocyte to develop to metaphase II, and $\beta$-ME reverses such inhibitory effects. The cooperation of gonadotropins and $\beta$-ME stimulates the meiotic resumption and especially, promotes the CEOs to develop to metaphase II in both models. Moreover, HX might contribute to the fragility of oocyte zona pellucida and gonadotropins, nitric oxide and $\beta$-ME could alleviate it separately, and cooperatively. It is concluded that NO exerts different functions in two models and $\beta$-ME affected the functions of NO in different models.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.84-91
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• 1990

본 실험은 돼지난포란의 체외성숙과 체외수정 효과를 높일 수 있는 방법을 찾기 위하여 시도되었으며 직경 1~2mm와 3~7mm 난포로부터 채란된 난자를 mKRB(-BSA)에 돼지발정혈청(ESS), FCS 또는 투석돼지난포액(DFF)을 첨가한 성숙배양에서 24~48시간, 37$^{\circ}C$에서 배양하였다. 성숙된 난포란은 정소상체 정자와 24시간 배양 후 전핵행성 여부를 조사하였다. 36~48시간 배양에서 50~60%의 난자가 metaphase II에 도달되었고 난포 크기(1~2mm와 3~7mm)간에 체외성숙율의 차이는 없었으나 3~7mm 난포란에서 성숙분열이 다소 빨랐다. 체외성숙배양액에 5% ESS, 15% FCS 및 DFF 첨가시 대조구보다 다소 성숙율이 높았다. 체외수정율(전핵형성)은 5% ESS와 15% FCS 첨가 성숙시킨 난포란과 체내 수정능획득 정자와의 수정에서 각각 높은 경향이 있었다. 따라서 돼지난포란의 체외성숙과 수정에 ESS, FCS 및 투석난포액이 유효한 요인이 됨을 알 수 있다.