Gene expression profile of cumulus cells derived from cumulus–oocyte complexes matured either in vivo or in vitro
Dawit Tesfaye A , Nasser Ghanem A , Fiona Carter B , Trudee Fair B , Marc-André Sirard C , Michael Hoelker A , Karl Schellander A and Patrick Lonergan B D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Institute of Animal Science, Animal Breeding and Husbandry Group, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany.
B School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
C Centre de Recherche en Biologie de la Reproduction, Université Laval, Département des Sciences Animales, Pav. Comtois, Laval, Sainte-Foy, Québec, Canada G1K 7P4.
D Corresponding author. Email: pat.lonergan@ucd.ie
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 21(3) 451-461 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD08190
Submitted: 2 September 2008 Accepted: 20 October 2008 Published: 4 March 2009
Abstract
Although it is well established that maturation conditions have a clear influence on oocyte developmental competence, it is not known whether this could be due to downstream effects of perturbation of the transcript profile of the oocyte’s adjacent cumulus cells. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare the transcript profiles of cumulus cells derived from cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) matured in vitro or in vivo. Using a previously validated combined synchronisation and superstimulation protocol, COCs were recovered from beef heifer ovaries just before the expected time of the LH surge and matured in vitro, while in vivo-matured COCs were recovered just before ovulation (20 h after the LH surge). A custom-made cDNA microarray containing 2278 granulosa/cumulus transcripts was used for target and dye-swap hybridisations. In all, 64 genes were differentially expressed between the two groups. Transcript abundance of key genes associated with cumulus expansion (TNFAIP6) and regulation of oocyte maturation (INHBA and FST) were upregulated in in vivo-derived cumulus cells. However, cumulus cells derived from IVM COCs were enriched with genes involved in response to stress (HSPA5 and HSP90AB1). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction confirmed the array results for eight of 10 genes selected for validation. The data presented here reveal that differences in oocyte developmental capacity after maturation in vitro or in vivo are accompanied by distinct differences in transcript abundance of the surrounding cumulus cells.
Additional keywords: cumulus cells, oocyte maturation.
Acknowledgement
This work was supported by Science Foundation Ireland (the opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Science Foundation Ireland).
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