234 MECHANISMS OF SPONTANEOUS ACTIVATION IN RAT OOCYTES

Abstract

MII-arrested rat oocytes spontaneously resume meiotic maturation soon after recovery from oviducts. Time elapsed post oocyte retrieval, environmental factors, certain genetic background have been implied to promote spontaneous release from MII arrest in rat oocytes. The precise mechanism behind this process is unknown. This study was undertaken to explore signaling pathways, which may be involved in spontaneous activation in rat oocytes. Using triple immuno-staining and epifluorescence microscopy we have described morphological changes in the meiotic spindle of rat oocytes during 6h of in vitro culture (immature CD female rats from Charles River Laboratories). An ELISA-based method was used to evaluate cdc2 activity in rat oocytes subjected to in vitro culture. SDS-PAGE and western blotting were performed to study levels of phosphorylated and total p42/p44 MAPK, phosphorylated on Tyr15 and total cdc2, cyclin B1 and β actin. Expression of Emi2 was analysed by RT-PCR. Data were analyzed using GLMM or ANOVA followed by t-test. Freshly collected oocytes contained well-preserved spindle with chromosomes aligned in metaphase plate. After being in culture for 2 h oocytes demonstrated signs of activation, such as spindle rotation, preparing to extrude second polar body, and some oocytes had entered anaphase. In the majority of oocytes cultured for 6 h spindles had disintegrated and chromosomes were scattered in the oocyte cytoplasm; microtubules were found around condensed chromosomes. Significant drop in cdc2 activity was detected in oocytes after 2 h of in vitro culture. In oocytes cultured for additional 4h of cdc2 activity returned to the level observed in freshly collected oocytes. Inhibitory phosphorylation of cdc2 on Tyr 15 was not associated with cdc2 inactivation. We were not able to detect changes in the level of cyclin B1 during the MII to MIII transition. Phosphorylated forms of activated p42/p44 MAPK in eggs were present throughout in vitro culture. Emi2 is a novel candidate cytostatic factor in vertebrate eggs. Expression of Emi2 was detected at mRNA level in rat eggs and zygotes with no expression at later stages of preimplantation development. Taken together, the onset of spontaneous activation in rat oocytes is correlated with a sharp decline in cdc2 activity and stable level of phosphorylated p42/p44 MAPK. Dynamics of cdc2 and p42/p44 MAPK activity during spontaneous activation resembles that during the MI to MII transition, although spontaneously activated rat oocytes do not form MIII spindle. Molecular factors involved in spindle assembly may be missing during the MII to MIII transition. Persistence of p42/p44 MAPK in spontaneously activated rat oocytes could account for the absence of pronuclear formation. The role of Emi2 remains to be investigated.

This work is supported by the CMVM, ORS, Mary Orr Paterson studentships and the Framework 6 activity EURATOOLS.